Meet Sneha Biswas, the IIT-Harvard alum who’s shaking up education with her innovative startup, Early Steps Academy. From a small-town upbringing in Jamshedpur to global stages, Sneha’s journey shows how one person’s passion can transform learning for kids worldwide.
### A Spark from Home and IIT Days
Sneha grew up in Jamshedpur, where her mother encouraged her to think big through debates, public speaking, and endless reading. She racked up over 200 awards in competitions, building the confidence and curiosity that define her today. At IIT Kharagpur, Sneha aced her studies but quickly learned that top grades alone don’t create real change. She discovered the real power lies in critical thinking, clear communication, and bold leadership—skills she honed through her early experiences.
### Building a Global Career Before the Big Leap
After IIT, Sneha dove into a dynamic career. She worked with Teach for India, then took on challenging roles at Schlumberger across the US, Africa, and Europe. Later, she joined Bain & Company in London. These adventures taught her the value of confidence backed by real skills and the magic of diverse viewpoints. But the game-changer came at Harvard Business School. There, she embraced the case-study method, which focuses on solving real problems instead of memorizing facts. “Harvard wasn’t always my plan,” Sneha once said, “but I knew I’d regret skipping it.”
### Why She Started Early Steps Academy in 2021
In 2021, Sneha left her high-flying consulting job to launch Early Steps Academy in Bengaluru. With her global exposure and a sense of responsibility, she wanted to fix the gap between old-school education and the skills kids need for the real world. The platform offers live, interactive classes for children aged 8-18, using a kid-friendly version of Harvard’s case-study approach. Students dive into exciting topics like climate change, AI, bioengineering, space tech, and even NFTs—learning to think critically and lead like pros.
Today, Early Steps Academy reaches kids in over 50 countries. It boasts retention rates above 90%, thanks to its engaging curriculum and trained moderators who guide diverse groups of students. The classes happen in simple, child-friendly language, making complex ideas fun and accessible.
### Rapid Growth and Big Wins for EdTech Innovation
Early Steps Academy hit the ground running. In under a year, it raised $1.2 million in seed funding from top investors like BEENEXT, Whiteboard Capital, Taurus Ventures, and angels including Varun Alagh. The startup also earned a spot in the prestigious Sequoia Spark Fellowship, cementing its role as a leader in edtech.
Sneha’s vision has caught global attention. In 2024, she spoke at the India Conference at Harvard—a full-circle moment for her entrepreneurial path. Now, with students from 50+ countries clocking millions of learning minutes, Early Steps is scaling fast and making a real difference in K-12 education.
### Rewiring Learning for Tomorrow’s Leaders
Sneha dreams of turning Early Steps into a global movement that builds critical thinking, confident communication, empathy, and cultural awareness in every child. “In today’s world, it’s less about knowing the answer and more about how to find it,” she says. The next steps? Expanding to bilingual and regional languages to reach even more kids across geographies.
Founded in 2021 by Sneha Biswas, Early Steps Academy is a live-learning platform revolutionizing education for ages 8-18. Through its unique case-based curriculum, it equips students worldwide with essential leadership skills, backed by stellar retention and investor support. If you’re passionate about innovative education or edtech startups, this is one to watch!
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