Prerna Jhunjhunwala: The Non-Conventional Entrepreneur Behind a Rs 330 Crore Startup

Prerna Jhunjhunwala, a science graduate from New York University, is making waves in the world of entrepreneurship in India despite not having attended prestigious institutions like IIT or IIM. Unlike traditional startup founders, Prerna did not undergo formal business education, but her remarkable journey has led to the establishment of a successful Rs 330 crore startup.

Prerna’s entrepreneurial journey began with the establishment of the renowned Little Paddington preschool in Singapore. Her passion for education later led her to found Creative Galileo, an Edutech firm with a mission to educate children between the ages of 3 and 10. The cornerstone of Creative Galileo is an app designed to foster reading development in children aged three to eight.

Two of the most notable applications developed by Creative Galileo are Toondemy and Little Singham. These apps have garnered over one crore downloads and achieved the remarkable feat of becoming the only educational app for youngsters to break into India’s top 20 on the Playstore.

Prerna’s LinkedIn profile underscores the uniqueness of Creative Galileo’s offerings, emphasizing a tailored learning journey, narrative videos, and gamification elements designed to engage and educate young minds.

What sets Prerna Jhunjhunwala apart from the conventional startup founder is her educational background. With a degree in science from New York University as her sole formal qualification, she embarked on her entrepreneurial journey without professional business training.

Despite her non-traditional path, Prerna’s startup attracted approximately Rs 60 crore in investments last year, marking a significant milestone. The startup’s valuation also soared to an impressive $40 million or Rs 330 crore.

Prerna Jhunjhunwala’s story serves as an inspiration to aspiring entrepreneurs, proving that a strong vision, dedication, and innovation can lead to remarkable success, even without the traditional pedigree associated with business school alumni. Her journey exemplifies that passion, perseverance, and a commitment to making a positive impact on education can create a thriving and influential startup, regardless of one’s formal education background.

Re-reported from the article originally published in The DNA