Startup Stoa School wants To Bring The Vision Of The 'Alternative MBA' To India
Wednesday, 10 November 2021, 10:51 IST
Stoa School, the Goa-based startup has raised millions to bring high quality, an unaccredited alternative to higher business education in India.
The startup’s $1.5 million pre-seed party round includes better capital fonder Vaibhav Domkundwar, NotBring Media founder Packy McCormick, Udemy and Maven co-founder Gagan Biyani, Teachable co-founder Ankur Nagpal and Drunce Capital investor John Danner and Zivame founder Richa Kar.
“People want to know more about startups and perhaps the transition from working at a corporate job,” said co-founder Raj Kunkolienkar. His co-founder, Aditya Kulkarni, added that startup is positioning itself “as a way to [fill] startup jobs because not everyone is accustomed to ‘what is CAC, what is GTM and what is LTV’.
“Our idea is to give a sort of complete 360-degree overview of different business areas,” said Kunkolienkar.
In order to become an alternative to the traditional MBA, Stoa will need to focus on measurable outcomes, quality assurance of curriculum and continuous proof that an unaccredited curriculum can make a difference in students’ lives.
“A lot of people who apply to Stoa are looking for clarity,” said Kulkarni. “You want a certain change, but the first step toward evaluating that is whether I want to even do the change or not.”
“We are a six-month degree, and Indian regulators are never going to accept that kind of degree or diploma,” said Kunkolienkar. “There are very specific rules around what is accredited here in India.” Stoa says it is set on not going the “degree way” because it wants to retain control over the brand, the curriculum and the ability to change and iterate fast.
“India is obviously a society [and] culture that values credentialism a ton, but I think they have a cool opportunity to rebuild what an MBA does, means and delivers for the entire country,” said Ankur Nagpal, founder of Vibe Capital and investor in the startup, “I think they have done brand-building and [developed an] alumni network well enough that it’s become an aspirational brand to those in the know.”
The startup’s $1.5 million pre-seed party round includes better capital fonder Vaibhav Domkundwar, NotBring Media founder Packy McCormick, Udemy and Maven co-founder Gagan Biyani, Teachable co-founder Ankur Nagpal and Drunce Capital investor John Danner and Zivame founder Richa Kar.
“People want to know more about startups and perhaps the transition from working at a corporate job,” said co-founder Raj Kunkolienkar. His co-founder, Aditya Kulkarni, added that startup is positioning itself “as a way to [fill] startup jobs because not everyone is accustomed to ‘what is CAC, what is GTM and what is LTV’.
“Our idea is to give a sort of complete 360-degree overview of different business areas,” said Kunkolienkar.
In order to become an alternative to the traditional MBA, Stoa will need to focus on measurable outcomes, quality assurance of curriculum and continuous proof that an unaccredited curriculum can make a difference in students’ lives.
“A lot of people who apply to Stoa are looking for clarity,” said Kulkarni. “You want a certain change, but the first step toward evaluating that is whether I want to even do the change or not.”
“We are a six-month degree, and Indian regulators are never going to accept that kind of degree or diploma,” said Kunkolienkar. “There are very specific rules around what is accredited here in India.” Stoa says it is set on not going the “degree way” because it wants to retain control over the brand, the curriculum and the ability to change and iterate fast.
“India is obviously a society [and] culture that values credentialism a ton, but I think they have a cool opportunity to rebuild what an MBA does, means and delivers for the entire country,” said Ankur Nagpal, founder of Vibe Capital and investor in the startup, “I think they have done brand-building and [developed an] alumni network well enough that it’s become an aspirational brand to those in the know.”
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