Umang Sangal, Founder of Uplifters, a skill-based, ed-tech startup

Interview with Umang Sangal, Founder of Uplifters, a skill-based, ed-tech startup

Umang Sangal is an innovative entrepreneur and the driving force behind Uplifters, a groundbreaking skill-based ed-tech startup.

His vision for creating a platform that empowers individuals to reach their full potential through education and skill development has transformed the way people access and acquire knowledge.

Umang Sangal’s passion for education, combined with his tech expertise, has revolutionized the ed-tech industry.

Through Uplifters, he continues to uplift lives and empower individuals to realize their full potential. With a steadfast commitment to innovation and accessibility, Sangal’s journey serves as an inspiration to aspiring entrepreneurs and educators alike, reminding us that education is the key to unlocking a brighter future for all.

Tell us a little about yourself

Umang Sangal: I am from Shamli – a small town in Uttar Pradesh. I completed my graduation from NIT Allahabad in Computer Science and Engineering in 2018 and have 5 years of IT industry experience.

I started my career with UBS (Swiss Bank), Pune, as a Software Engineer and worked there for 4 years. After that, I worked with Airtel Payments Bank for a year as a Senior Software Engineer.

Can you tell us about the inspiration behind starting Uplifters? What led you to establish a skill-based, ed-tech startup, and what problem were you aiming to solve in the education sector?

Umang Sangal: I was raised in the small town of Shamli in Uttar Pradesh with limited opportunities and no mentors to guide me, I have faced many challenges that a typical tier 2/tier 3 city student faces in making their career.

At Uplifters, we aim to uplift India’s students from tier 2 and tier 3 cities and colleges by providing them with the right skills and training and helping them land good jobs.

With our Pay after Placements programme, we are trying to reduce the financial burden on the students, and Our lectures are also in “Hinglish” so that students can learn and understand easily.

Kindly brief us about your company, its specialisation, and its services.

Umang Sangal: Uplifters is a skill-based, ed-tech startup with a “pay after placement” model that aims to uplift India’s students from tier 2 and tier 3 cities and colleges by providing them with the right skills and training and helping them land good jobs. Uplifters aims to bridge the gap between college curriculum and industry pedagogy.

Our specialisation is that we provide training to the students at affordable prices, which helps them gain knowledge and skills without the stress of money, as they have to pay after the placement.

We have mentors from the industry who have more than 5+ years of experience, so they can guide students better and help them become industry ready, which increases the chances of the students getting better placements in the job market. Our classes are in Hinglish so that students can understand and develop skills quickly.

Uplifters offers three types of courses:

Software Development Courses-

• Backend Java Developer.
• Full web developer.
• Python Developer.

Data Science Courses-

• Data Scientist.
• Business Analyst.
• Data Analyst.

Marketing Courses-

• Graphic Designer.
• Digital Marketing.

Skill-based learning is gaining popularity in the education industry. How does Uplifters differentiate itself from traditional educational platforms, and what unique value does it bring to learners?

Umang Sangal: Nowadays, Skill-based learning is the most popular and important aspect of the education industry. Uplifters is different from other educational platforms because of its Pay-After-Placement model, which provides skills and training to the students as well as helps in the placements.

In this model, students register in any programme by paying minimal upfront fees and pay the rest of the fees after getting placement, which reduces the financial burden on the student.

The uniqueness of our company is that we provide the courses at affordable prices, our classes are in “Hinglish”, which is more understandable to the students, and there are industry experts and mentors who always guide the students and help them become industry ready.

We offer courses in three different domains, such as Software development courses, Data science courses, and Marketing courses.

Our live classes, and project-based learning by the mentors, who are industry experts, make us different from other Ed-Tech startups.

As an ed-tech startup, technology plays a crucial role in your platform. How do you stay updated with the latest trends and advancements in educational technology, and how do you ensure that your platform remains relevant and effective?

Umang Sangal: As an ed-tech startup, staying updated with the latest trends and advancements in educational technology is essential to remaining competitive and providing the best possible experience for our users.

Uplifters, an ed-tech startup, encourages experimenting with cutting-edge technology in the educational field.

We continue to keep up with how these tools are applied in the educational field and consider how they could potentially be used on our platform.

At Uplifters, we welcome feedback from our platform users, including mentors and learners, and actively consider their ideas, concerns, and requirements, which leads to product improvements and innovations.

Our ed-tech startup promotes a culture of continual learning, encouraging team members to participate in workshops, webinars, and pertinent courses to advance their expertise in the ed-tech field.

In the competitive ed-tech industry, acquiring and retaining customers can be challenging. What strategies and marketing approaches have you found most effective in growing Uplifters user base?

Umang Sangal: For thought leadership, user engagement, and increased organic search engine presence, we provide significant and useful information in the form of blog posts, articles, videos, and webinars.

We create an online community around our educational technology platform, such as forums or social media groups, where users may connect, exchange experiences, and seek guidance.

At Uplifters, we also deploy social proof to our strengths by highlighting positive testimonials, case studies, and reviews to establish credibility with new clients.

With the ever-changing landscape of education and technology, how do you ensure that Uplifters remains agile and adaptive to future developments and opportunities in the ed-tech space?

Umang Sangal: As the education methodology and technology constantly keep on changing in this digital age, Uplifters, the ed-tech startup ensures to be updated with the latest trends, emerging technologies and changing needs of students, mentors and educational platforms.

We use techniques like Rapid or Lean Startup to develop products in a way that is iterative, enabling rapid alterations in response to customer input and shifting market demands.

We motivate our team to upskill themselves through continuous training and professional development, ensuring that our workforce stays up-to-date with the latest technologies and educational methodologies.

In order to discover areas for development and anticipate future demands, we provide exceptional customer service and keep lines of communication open with our users.

What advice would you give to aspiring entrepreneurs who are looking to enter the ed-tech industry or start their own skill-based educational startups?

Umang Sangal: Before entering the ed-tech market, conduct research to find a specific issue or market gap that your educational firm may address.

Your solution should centre on satisfying the demands of your target audience, regardless of the issue—a lack of easily available resources, outmoded teaching techniques, or particular talent in high demand.

Become an expert on your target demographic. Learn about their preferences, pain points, and learning styles.

What are your success tips for young and aspiring entrepreneurs?

Umang Sangal: I would advise budding entrepreneurs to select a company venture that truly inspires them and connects with their hobbies and interests because I am an entrepreneur myself.

In difficult conditions, enthusiasm will increase your motivation. Create a thorough business plan that details your company’s goals, plans, financial projections, and marketing tactics.

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