AI-focused EdTech Startup Aims To Bridge The Gap Between Current Education System & Modern Skills; Onboards 2K+ Schools Across India

In February 2024, Jitesh Bajaj, an open innovation, AI, and emerging technologies professional, innovator, and the noted author of the bestselling book India’s Innovation Imperative, walked away from a successful 20-year corporate career.

Having worked with giants like Tesco, Google, Amazon, and Bank of America, he wasn’t seeking applause—he was driven by a deep dissatisfaction with how India’s education system was preparing its youth.

“I kept seeing the same disconnect—students graduating with degrees but lacking the real-world skills that matter,” recalls Jitesh Bajaj, now the CEO and co-founder of EdVANS, a Bangalore-based skills innovation platform transforming how students and schools approach learning.

At the same time, Akshatha Kulkarni—an educator with over a decade of experience in teaching and curriculum innovation—was seeking ways to make learning more meaningful and future-focused.

When Jitesh discussed his vision for EdVANS, it resonated deeply with her own aspirations. Driven by a shared purpose, they came together to bring EdVANS to life.

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Building from Scratch:

By April 2024, EdVANS was officially launched from a modest office in Bangalore.

The education and skills space was crowded, but the founders were clear—they weren’t building a traditional EdTech company. They were building a movement that blends technology, innovation, and life-ready skills into the heart of the school ecosystem.

Their research showed that despite increasing conversations around AI and automation, schools still struggled to deliver contextual, practical learning experiences. There was a gap between what students were taught and what the world expected of them.

"Our research exposed a few big gaps. From rising fears of joblessness due to AI, to a shocking lack of basic financial literacy or critical thinking in school curricula—it became clear that we needed to act fast," says Akshatha Kulkarni, now the co-founder & COO of EdVANS, during an exclusive interview with Startup Pedia.

And they did act.

Innovation X: A New Way to Learn

In response, the duo launched Innovation X—a flagship programme that introduces students to ten future-ready competencies that go far beyond rote academics.

The curriculum covers the following ten crucial areas to address the complex and ever-evolving tech-enabled education landscape of the 21st century:-

1. Artificial Intelligence

2. Collaboration & Communication

3. Financial Literacy & Entrepreneurship

4. Critical Thinking & Problem-Solving

5. Information & Media Literacy

6. Digital Literacy & Computational Thinking 

7. Environmental & Sustainability Awareness 

8. Leadership & Adaptability

9. Social-Emotional Learning

10. Creativity & Innovation

The goal? To replace conventional learning with applied, experiential education that fosters innovation and entrepreneurship.

Innovation X’s content is designed for various age groups and integrated into school settings through immersive workshops, hands-on projects, and interactive challenges. It’s experiential, applicable, and deeply engaging.

“Innovation X is our way of helping students unlearn limitations and start thinking like leaders, creators, and change-makers,” Jitesh explains to Startup Pedia.

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Think AI: Teaching Students to Harness the AI Revolution

The flagship programme under Innovation X is called Think AI, and it’s even more ambitious in scope.

Think AI is designed to bring AI literacy to students from Grade 4 through undergrad, using gamified learning, storytelling, hands-on projects, and real-world use cases to build a foundational understanding of how AI works and why it matters.

“We’re at the tipping point. AI will soon be as integral to life as the internet. And if our children don’t understand it, they risk being left behind,” says Akshatha.

The programme includes AI competitions, project-based learning, and even mentorship to guide students into thinking critically about ethical, societal, and career implications of AI.

The pilot phase alone aims to  reach over 1 million students across 2,000+ schools in India, and it's just the beginning.

Plans are already underway to expand the programme to colleges & universities, with the added goal of helping students land internships and jobs in leading AI-powered companies.

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A Movement, Not Just a Startup:

EdVANS stands out in the EdTech space with a clear mission—to build a strong AI foundation for every student in India.

By making basic AI knowledge accessible at an early age, EdVANS aims to empower the next generation and help position India as a global leader in AI.

“EdVANS isn’t an app, it's a mindset shift. We’re working with educators, students, and even parents to create learning environments that are real, relatable, and future-ready,” Jitesh shares.

And the impact is real.

Thousands of students are already engaging with EdVANS’ programmes. Parents, teachers, and industry experts have been vocal in their support.

Even corporates are taking note. Various organisations are currently in talks to partner with EdVANS to provide internships and mentorship opportunities to students.

Akshatha, who also hosts the podcast EdVANS Voice, has turned it into a thought leadership platform where educators and futurists come together to explore what the next generation of learning should look like.

What’s Next?:

What comes next for EdVANS is both exciting and profoundly ambitious.

Their upcoming initiative, The Young India Founder, is set to be India’s first ‘Shark Tank-style' competition for school students and teachers. It’s a platform for pitching startup ideas, securing funding, and receiving mentorship toward launching next-gen startups.

"This is about telling children and teachers—you are never too young or too old to be an innovator and entrepreneur,” says Jitesh.

With the global AI in education market projected to grow at over 31.2% annually till 2030, EdVANS is perfectly positioned to scale. And with India’s New Education Policy (NEP 2020) encouraging flexibility and skill-based learning, the timing couldn’t have been better.

For now, the focus remains on deepening their footprint in Indian schools. But the long-term vision is global.

EdVANS is in the process of raising funds to scale its operations and product line. It is actively reaching out to investors and seeking more partnerships with schools, universities and governments.

The Final Question: 

The old model of education—where degrees mattered more than skills, and memorisation trumped critical thinking—is slowly cracking under the weight of a fast-evolving tech-led 21st century.

EdVANS wants to be a part of this brave new world and build something better in place of the orthodoxy of old educational techniques.

As Jitesh puts it, “The world doesn’t need more degrees—it needs more problem solvers, innovators, and change-makers.”

From a small office in Bangalore to 2,000+ schools across India, EdVANS is showing what’s possible when education meets technology, and when vision meets execution.

As India redefines its learning landscape, startups like EdVANS aren’t just participating in the change—they’re leading it.

The only question that remains is—are we ready to follow?