Farmer's Son Launches EdTech for Healthcare Pros, Earns ₹2 Cr/Month

Born into a struggling farmer's family in a small town in Uttar Pradesh called Sahaswan, District Budaun, Dr. Akram Ahmad did not have big dreams. Rather, he wanted to become a pharmacist and open a medical store in his town. Little did he know that he would one day empower youth in the field of medicine.

His father had a mere about 3 acres of farmland where he toiled day and night to earn a living. It was tough for the family to survive.

"I studied in a government school in my village. The financial condition became stable when my elder brother became a pharmacist and opened our own pharmacy," Dr Akram told Startup Pedia in an exclusive interview.

He was good at studies, so his relatives suggested that his father enroll him in medical education.

The Turning Point

Leveraging his academic strengths, Akram went to Tamil Nadu to pursue his Doctor of Pharmacy at Annamalai University.

Looking at Akram's ability to publish numerous research papers, a speaker from the United States, invited by his university, made him aware of better opportunities available abroad.

"The speaker from the US was a life-changer for me, making me realize there was a whole world of opportunities outside India for medicine aspirants and professionals," said the founder of Academically Global in the Startup Pedia interview.

This encounter inspired him to explore options abroad. After pursuing multiple opportunities, he finally secured his first job as a pharmacy lecturer in Malaysia.

Spotting the Gap

With almost a decade of experience working in Sydney and Malaysia as a clinical pharmacology lecturer, research associate, and research manager, earning a handsome salary, the founder of Academically Global observed something unexpected. 

He was pursuing his PhD from the Faculty of Medicine and Health at the University of Sydney in Australia on a scholarship. His research focused on diabetic patients from India, during which he observed that healthcare professionals from India and other countries moved there for better job opportunities in the medical field. 

However, they were relegated to menial jobs because they lacked knowledge about licensing exams, resource materials, and the pathways to secure better and higher-paying positions in the healthcare industry.

When Dr. Akram spoke to many of them, he found a significant gap. "I discovered that these medical professionals are doing odd jobs because they did not know the pathway to acquire better medical jobs in Australia or other countries," explained the founder of Academically Global during the interview with Startup Pedia.

He further explained that there are exams these medical professionals must clear to secure better and higher-paying opportunities in foreign countries.

"Unfortunately, even deans in medical colleges don't know about these exams, and even if they do, they don't inform students. I don't know why," added Dr. Akram. 

The Birth of Academically Global

While working as a research manager at Sydney Children's Hospitals Network, Dr. Akram began sharing knowledge through YouTube videos about various exams necessary to obtain better medical job opportunities in foreign countries.

Since he provided valuable information that almost every medical aspirant and professional sought, he gained a large following on YouTube.

Seeing the questions and curiosity of medical aspirants and professionals from across the globe, Dr Akram felt the need to launch a healthcare EdTech startup where he could guide and prepare medical professionals for various exams needed to secure high-paying medical jobs abroad.

In 2022, leaving a ₹6 lakh per month salary job, Dr. Akram Ahmad launched Academically Global.

Headquartered in Sydney and India, Academically Global is a healthcare EdTech platform where medical professionals can enroll in courses necessary to prepare for licensing exams for better and higher-paying medical jobs in foreign countries.

Academically Global’s candidates also get  assistance in document verification and resume creation once they clear licensing exams. 

Academically Global prepares candidates through recorded and live online classes. Recorded lectures are especially for those who miss live classes. 

Currently, Academically Global serves students across 75  countries helping them clear licensing exams for countries like  Australia, New Zealand, Ireland, Canada, the USA, Saudi Arabia, and Dubai, Different countries have different exam requirements for providing jobs to foreign health professionals, and Academically Global prepares candidates for about 25 exams such as OPRA, AMC, ADC, COE, PEBC,PSI, APC,IELTS, etc. 

Academically Global Global conducts comprehensive research on the demand for healthcare professionals in specific countries, then develops tailored course structures and resource materials for licensing exams. 

The healthcare EdTech not only addresses the knowledge gap for students seeking to migrate but also connects countries in need of expert healthcare talent with regions where exceptional professionals are seeking opportunities.

The founder of Academically Global mentioned during the Startup Pedia interview, "After clearing any of these exams, healthcare professionals can secure jobs with salaries beyond ₹50 lakh if they are just starting their careers. With some experience, the salary can go beyond ₹1 crore."

Growth of Academically Global

Started from home with an investment of about $50,000 to set up the website, marketing, and prepare lectures. In its first batch, there were only 7 students who enrolled in Academically Global courses. However, the number has grown dramatically since then.

Within just two years, the healthcare edtech has trained about 3,000 students  and healthcare professionals such as pharmacists, MBBS doctors, physiotherapists, and dentists, and nurses. The EdTech has an impressive 90% success rate, with over 500 students already placed in jobs abroad.

"We make sure students are fully prepared before they take their exams. We are the first company in the world to offer a complete solution for students in this field," claimed the founder of Academically Global during the interview with Startup Pedia.

There are agents out there who do half the work, but no one provides an end-to-end service like Academically Global to help medical professionals acquire high-paying jobs in foreign countries.

As the enrollment in healthcare EdTech Academically Global increased, the revenue also grew.

In the first year, the EdTech startup barely made any revenue to cover its costs. However, by 2023, the edtech startup had generated ₹12 crore in revenue. Currently, the startup is making ₹2 crore in revenue every month.

While discussing future financial goals in the interview with Startup Pedia, Dr. Akram said, "Our goal is to reach ₹200  crore a year in the next 2  years. We've been growing steadily, with a 25-30% increase every quarter. To help us achieve this, we opened a new office in Dehradun in May and plan to keep expanding."

Today, the EdTech platform has about 100 employees, including healthcare mentors, marketing, HR, and others.

The Plan Ahead

When asked about the future plans, Dr. Akram shared ambitious plans to expand Academically Global’s course offerings to cover healthcare exams in multiple countries, including the Middle East, and Europe.

"Our vision is to be the number one healthcare EdTech company in the world," he stated.

By 2025, Academically Global plans to launch medical licensing exam courses for US and several European countries.

Academically Global is transforming the lives of thousands of students, helping them achieve their dreams and contribute to the global healthcare workforce.

"Education is the most powerful tool we have. I'm committed to making sure every student has the opportunity to succeed, no matter where they come from. If I could make it from a small town, anyone can," signed off Dr. Akram, the founder of Academically Global.

FAQ

Q.

What is Academically Global?

A.

Academically Global is a healthcare EdTech startup launched in 2022 by Dr Akram Ahmad. It is focused on helping medical professionals prepare for various exams required to secure high-paying medical jobs abroad.

Q.

Who founded Academically Global?

A.

Academically Global was founded by Dr. Akram Ahmad, who was inspired by his experiences working as a lecturer and research manager in Malaysia and Sydney.

Q.

What kind of courses does Academically Global offer?

A.

Academically Global offers courses that prepare medical professionals for about 25 different exams required for healthcare jobs in various countries, including OPRA, AMC, ADC, COE, PEBC, and IELTS, among others.

Q.

Where is Academically Global headquartered?

A.

Academically Global is headquartered in Sydney, Australia, and Dehradun, India