Why AI Is Reopening the Edtech Conversation
After years of funding slowdown and waning confidence, India’s edtech sector is cautiously re-emerging around a new thesis: AI-driven, outcome-focused learning. As passive video-led models lose relevance, founders are experimenting with platforms that prioritise problem-solving, personalisation, and teacher visibility.
What Has Been Launched
Seasoned entrepreneur Mukesh Bansal, cofounder of Myntra and Cult.fit, has partnered with former Google executive Peeyush Ranjan to launch Fermi AI, a Singapore-based edtech startup focused on AI-first STEM learning for school students in India and the US.
In India, Fermi will offer after-school coaching for students in classes 9–12, starting with physics, chemistry, and mathematics. In the US, the platform will target Advanced Placement STEM courses. The app has launched with a free model, with paid plans yet to be announced.
Inside Fermi’s Learning Approach
Founded after a three-month pilot involving 79 students, Fermi positions itself as an AI-assisted learning platform rather than an answer-generating chatbot. The platform guides students through the problem-solving process without revealing solutions upfront, while providing teachers with data-driven insights into learning gaps.
The app is also stylus-first, allowing students to write on tablets to replicate pen-and-paper learning, a method the founders believe improves retention and conceptual clarity.
Roadmap and Expansion Plans
Fermi plans to expand beyond PCM to include biology for NEET preparation, along with subjects such as engineering, accounting, and data science. The startup is backed for advisory and internal funding by early-stage venture firm Meraki Labs, where both founders are partners. External fundraising has not yet begun.
Market Context: Edtech in a Reset Phase
India’s edtech funding fell 56% year-on-year to $249 million in 2025, marking an eight-year low. However, investors are increasingly backing early-stage, AI-native platforms with focused use cases rather than large, generalist players.
Founder Takeaway
Fermi’s launch signals a broader shift in edtech: AI-led platforms that improve how students think, not just what they consume, may define the sector’s next growth cycle.
Keep building. Keep learning. Keep growing with StartupByDoc.