Former IAS officer Roman Saini shares an emotional retrospective on building Unacademy from a phone call at LBSNAA to its acquisition by upGrad, highlighting the evolution of online education in India.

  • Roman Saini quit the prestigious IAS to co-found Unacademy after a pivotal call with Gaurav Munjal.
  • Unacademy has now been acquired by upGrad, marking a new chapter under Ronnie Screwvala's leadership.
  • The platform scaled to 1 million paid subscribers and 100,000 monthly live classes during the pandemic peak.

The landscape of Indian education witnessed a seismic shift when Roman Saini, a man who had conquered the UPSC exams, decided to walk away from the stability of the Indian Administrative Service (IAS). In a recent heartfelt reflection following the acquisition of Unacademy by upGrad, Saini recounted the genesis of the platform—a journey that began with a stroll through the halls of LBSNAA and a transformative conversation with co-founder Gaurav Munjal.

In the early days, the concept of online teaching was not the gold mine it is today. Saini recalls a time when being an online educator was often looked down upon by the academic establishment. To combat this, Saini took a grassroots approach, personally calling nearly 200 potential educators in the first month alone to convince them to pivot to digital platforms. This persistence laid the groundwork for what would eventually become a billion-view phenomenon.

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Why This Matters

BozokMedia analysis shows that the Unacademy-upGrad deal is more than just a corporate merger; it represents the consolidation of the Indian EdTech sector. After a period of hyper-growth during the pandemic, the industry is shifting from aggressive user acquisition to sustainable, integrated learning ecosystems. Saini's transition from a bureaucrat to a disruptor symbolizes the changing aspirations of India's top talent, moving from governance to entrepreneurship.

The scale of Unacademy's impact became undeniable during the COVID-19 lockdowns. At its zenith, the platform hosted over 100,000 live classes monthly. Beyond the metrics, Saini shared a poignant story of a CISF officer who thanked him for enabling government exam preparation while on duty—proving that online education democratized access for those restricted by geography or professional obligations.

The shift from traditional coaching hubs like Old Rajinder Nagar to digital screens has permanently altered the socio-economic accessibility of competitive exam preparation in India.

However, the path to success was fraught with challenges. Saini detailed the "sleepless nights" and the relentless "firefighting" required to maintain growth. He recalled a specific instance of traveling to China to meet an investor who failed to show up, highlighting the volatility and rejection inherent in the startup world.

Looking forward, Saini expressed excitement about collaborating with Ronnie Screwvala at upGrad to create an even larger global impact. He credited his success to the support of his wife, Spriha Choubey, and the partnership with Munjal.

Did You Know?: Roman Saini is a polymath who cleared AIIMS at 16 and the UPSC civil services exam at 22 before entering the world of entrepreneurship.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q1: Why did Roman Saini leave the IAS?
Saini left the IAS to pursue his passion for education and entrepreneurship, aiming to build a scalable online platform that could reach millions of students across India.

Q2: What is the significance of the upGrad acquisition?
The acquisition integrates Unacademy's vast reach and educator network with upGrad's structured higher education and professional certification models.