Aryan Nangia
In the midst of developing an app for senior citizens as a personal project, Aryan Nangia, a student at Pathways School, Gurgaon, faced a major hurdle. He found himself struggling to find practical solutions to essential questions-how to position his app, design it to be user-friendly, attract customers, and ensure its financial sustainability. The online resources he came across weren't designed for teenagers like him; they were either too simplistic or far too advanced. This experience opened his eyes to a bigger challenge: the need for young people to continually upskill, especially in an era dominated by artificial intelligence (AI) and an unpredictable job market.
Fast forward a year, and Aryan launched LaunchPad, a student club at his school, starting with a small group of 12 enthusiastic middle schoolers. His mission was straightforward: to equip students with the ability to learn and stay relevant in the 21st century continuously. Aryan pinpointed five key skills that he believed would stand the test of time-design thinking, the basics of AI, business fundamentals, financial literacy, and effective communication. The club members met twice a month, engaging not only in lessons but in vibrant discussions, covering topics such as AI ethics and the marketing tactics they observed in their daily lives. To further enhance their learning, Aryan organized expert interviews, allowing students to hear directly from professionals answering pressing questions like "How will AI shape the future job market?" and "What do investors look for when evaluating startups?"
Speaking about LaunchPad, Aryan said, "This isn't your traditional edtech platform. We're not selling courses or the promise of acing exams. We are a global community of driven learners who want to create positive change." The community is entirely free, and the platform's features allow students to share ideas and receive mentorship from experienced individuals. It's truly a student-led initiative driven by the passion of its participants.
The feedback from LaunchPad has been overwhelmingly positive, prompting Aryan to think bigger. He now aims to expand the initiative, with students from various schools across India and internationally starting their own chapters. So far, LaunchPad has grown to 12 cities across five countries. "We believe that quality education should be accessible to everyone, without financial barriers," Aryan said. This philosophy has also led to the implementation of LaunchPad modules in NGOs across Delhi NCR, benefiting over 75 underprivileged students.
Recognizing the importance of going digital to scale the platform, Aryan, with help from friends, launched an online platform that enables students to learn and network, even if they're not part of a chapter school. With over 100 active learners and counting, Aryan is confident about the future, hoping to continue expanding this community of motivated students. As he puts it, "At the end of the day, it all adds up."
