Brief us about your education, industry expe­rience, and the inspiration behind establishing LifeVitae. Also, highlight the venture's key ar­eas of expertise.

I graduated in Mathematics from IIT Kharagpur and later pursued an MBA from IIM Lucknow. Initially I worked in an NBFC in India, later shifted to real estate research and consulting, first in India and then in Singapore, where I am currently based. During my professional journey, I entered the field of education as an adjunct lecturer at Fore School of Management and Ngee Ann Real Estate School of Business. This marked my entry into education and sparked my interest in the impact space. Volunteering with organizations like the People's Association and SINDA in Singapore, I closely interacted with underprivileged children and realized how their early educational challenges and a lack of guidance significantly affect their progress. This realization drove me to address the issue and create an affordable platform where children can go beyond grades to express themselves. Inspired by the UN WHO life skills model, which encompasses six parameters that every individual possesses, I developed a priori model to tackle this problem. With a strong dedication to making a difference in the lives of children, I embarked on this journey in 2019.

Tell us about the responsibilities you shoulder as the founder of LifeVitae. What are your key focus areas in terms of driving growth for the company?

As the founder of LifeVitae, my responsibilities encompass developing the product and making it accessible to rural and semi-urban areas of India and Indonesia. I prioritize keeping the product affordable, which led to building it in-house rather than relying on costly licenses. I collaborated with colleagues from prestigious institutions to develop the product using scientific methods and conducted extensive testing to ensure its validity.

"Our aim is to bridge the gap and ensure that every child has the necessary support and guidance. Empowering students and equipping them with the tools for success is our goal"

To drive growth, our main areas of focus are product development and innovation. We prioritize maintaining the highest quality standards, ensuring that every aspect meets our specifications on service delivery. Due to our target audience’s fleeting attention span, we continuously innovate and introduce at least one new product feature every month. People development is very vital to us. We foster a close-knit environment, considering our team members as friends rather than colleagues. We hold regular team meetings that combine work and fun, fostering personal connections and camaraderie within the company.

What challenges do you face as an edtech entrepreneur and how do you overcome them? What are some key milestones in your professional journey?

As an edtech entrepreneur, I face critical challenges related to rural internet bandwidth, limited device accessibility, and securing funding. To overcome these challenges, we have developed innovative solutions for smooth product functioning in low connectivity areas and accommodated device availability within a limited timeframe. Ongoing fundraising efforts have yielded promising conversations with supporters who recognize the importance of our work.

Through my professional journey, I achieved academic success, secured prestigious jobs, and transitioned to the academic sector where teaching and mentoring became my passion. I have been recognized and invited by educational institutions in Singapore, but the most significant milestone for me has been guiding and supporting students, witnessing and celebrating their growth and success. Volunteering with underprivileged students and providing educational opportunities has been a rewarding aspect of my career shift.

Tell us about your leadership philosophy. What advice do you have for aspiring women entrepreneurs?

My leadership philosophy is collaborative and hands-on. I believe in leading by example and actively participating in day-to-day operations. As a technology company, we have frequented commits every 15 days, and during these crucial periods, I work closely with my team, testing and collaborating alongside them. No task is too small or trivial, and attention to detail is critical for me.

For women entrepreneurs, my advice is to focus on the product/service. Once it directly addresses customer needs and solves their problems, the leader's gender becomes less significant. Honing the product to resonate with customers to deliver value has been my key driver. Revenues and success are not gender-specific in my opinion; the goal is to scale up and expand across regions, languages, and sectors. Customer-centricity and effective communication should be at the core of any business. By addressing customer needs and providing a seamless user experience, the founder's gender becomes secondary to the value delivered.