From earning ₹5,000 a month to leading one of India’s most inspiring edtech IPOs, the
Physics Wallah IPO Story is a tale of vision, grit, and impact. Founded by
Alakh Pandey and
Prateek Maheshwari , PhysicWallah has redefined affordable education for millions. The startup’s IPO marks a new chapter in India’s edtech revolution.
(Also read: Latest IPO News) The Humble Beginning
Alakh Pandey’ s journey didn’t start in a plush office or with deep friends in the industry. He began as a teacher from Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh, earning a modest salary of around
₹5,000 per month while tutoring students in physics. He wanted to make affordable exam-preparation available to every student in India. [caption id="attachment_39085" align="alignnone" width="1536"]
PW Journey[/caption] In 2016 he created a YouTube channel called “
Physics Wallah ”. As viewership grew, in 2020 he joined forces with his co-founder Prateek Maheshwari (also known as Prateek Boob) to formally launch the startup, expanding from physics to full exam-prep across JEE, NEET, K12.
What Makes PhysicWallah Special
Instead of chasing the premium market, Pandey and Maheshwari focused on affordability and mass access. Their business model: offer high-quality video lectures, live classes, study-materials and offline/online “hybrid” centres at disruptive pricing — often one-third or less than competitors. They targeted Tier 2 & Tier 3 Indian students who had sharp ambitions but limited budgets. This “affordable premium” positioning helped PW gain millions of users.
The Rise & Scale
With the YouTube channel’s popularity and their app, PW quickly scaled. They expanded into offline centres, exam-prep for multiple streams, and built a strong brand. By September 2024 the company was valued at
$2.8 billion . Ahead of their IPO the founders held approximately 40.31 % each of the company. At the upper end of valuation, their individual stakes were worth around
₹11,458 crore each.
The IPO Move
PhysicWallah has filed for its Initial Public Offering (IPO) in 2025. The size is expected to be around
₹3,820 crore , comprising a fresh issue and offer-for-sale by the co-founders. The IPO would mark PW as one of India’s earliest ed-tech unicorns to list publicly, breaking ground in the sector.
The Role of the Co-Founder
Prateek Maheshwari played a key role in scaling the business — building the tech infrastructure, driving the app development, orchestrating hybrid expansion and strategic hires. The partnership between Pandey (the teaching face) and Maheshwari (the operational & tech backbone) became a strong foundation for the brand.
What You Can Learn from This Story
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Start with one problem, solve for many: PW began with physics for JEE, then expanded horizontally.
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Affordable + accessible = scale: Rather than targeting wealthy cities, they built for mass India.
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Strong founder pairing matters: One visible face + one strong operations partner = balanced leadership.
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Build before you scale: The brand, teaching quality and trust came first, capital later.
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Own your niche, then expand: From YouTube to app to offline centres — layered growth.
The Billionaire Moment & What’s Next
The
PhysicWallah IPO not only highlights the remarkable rise of
Alakh Pandey from a small-town teacher to a billionaire entrepreneur but also showcases how India’s edtech sector is maturing. With a valuation of nearly $3 billion and a focus on affordable learning, PhysicWallah proves that quality education and business success can go hand in hand — inspiring countless educators and founders across the nation. With the IPO, Pandey and Maheshwari are set to become billionaires — a remarkable leap from ₹5,000 salary to ₹10,000+ crore net worth. This shows that in India’s startup ecosystem, the right idea + execution + timing can transform lives. Going forward, PW plans to expand offline centres, dive into hybrid learning models and strengthen its footprint in smaller towns. The PhysicWallah story isn’t just another startup success — it’s a blueprint for Indian founders. It tells you:
“You don’t need a legacy. You don’t need a big cheque first. You need clarity, grit and a clear problem-market fit.” As PW hits its IPO milestone, remember: the next billion-dollar brand might start in your hometown, just like this one did.
