Startup Circle- How upsurge is using Interactive Games to Teach Kids About Money Management and Entrepreneurship

Most of us start managing our finances when we start earning, as financial discussions are mostly
reserved for "adults." Thus, financial tools seem so new (and uncomfortable) as an adult. This
unfamiliarity with financial literacy played a key role in motivating the birth of upsurge—India’s
first gamified EdTech platform for children focused on promoting financial literacy,
entrepreneurship and modern life skills in 2021.

Founded by Karan Baweja, upsurge is a Delhi-based gaming-focused ed-tech startup that
helps children learn about money management, entrepreneurship, and other important life skills
through its proprietary interactive games-based courses and rewards.

Karan Baweja is the Chief Futurist (a.k.a CEO) and founder of upsurge, entrepreneurship and
modern life skills. With a background in investment banking and a double degree in Accounting
and Economics, Karan has always been passionate about empowering India's Gen Z with the
knowledge and skills they need to succeed financially.

Speaking to CIOL, Karan Baweja, Founder and CEO, upsurge.in, has shared his views on how upsurge is using Interactive Games to Teach Kids About Money Management and Entrepreneurship. He talked about his startup journey and also, and he speaks about the growth plans he has for upsurge.

Tell us about upsurge and your offerings. Tell us about the team.

Upsurge.in  is a first-of-its-kind platform for children to succeed financially and prepare them for the real world. By making financial literacy, entrepreneurship and other critical life skills a game, upsurge takes the boredom out of traditional finance lessons and replaces it with fun and excitement.

Our wide range of offerings include educational games, fun activities, engaging courses, interactive workshops (both online as well as offline), eventful competitions, and amazing rewards; all with a single core objective- empowering children to become financially smart.

Currently, the startup has a team of 25 members across tech, product, partnerships, sales, and marketing.

What are the drivers/market trends that are shaping the Tech landscape in 2023?

COVID was an unprecedented event in our lifetimes, and completely transformed the education industry with widespread adoption of technology as a delivery mechanism for learning.

As the world moves back off-line (schools & work-from-office), the adoption of technology across educational services and institutions has gained significant traction.

In addition, games as an industry also blew up over the last 3 years, with the Indian ecosystem booming both in terms of players and revenues.

How is upsurge tapping these market trends for growth?

At upsurge, we wish to use technology creatively to unlock youth’s potential by promoting skill development through games that are fun and experiential. We are developing experiences and activities for schools as well, who can license our programs and use our platform to deliver courses that are going to be mandatory in a few years.

Additionally, by gamifying skill-development with real rewards and recognition, we want to help the next generation develop a life-long love for learning and investing in themselves.

How upsurge is using Interactive Games to Teach Kids About Money Management and Entrepreneurship.

At upsurge, the mission is to inspire and empower the next generation with the holistic knowledge and skills they need to succeed in an evolving economy.

upsurge helps children learn about money management, entrepreneurship, and other important life skills through its proprietary interactive games-based courses and rewards. The programs and courses are designed to cultivate 21st-century skills such as problem-solving, leadership, communication, critical analysis, and creativity in students through the use of gamified learning and positive reinforcement. These courses are methodologically developed by experts and educators from top institutions including Harvard, the Indian Institute of Management, and the Indian School of Business.

How has your revenue grown with brand evolving during pandemic?

Since our official launch on November 14th, 2022, which coincided with Children's Day, we have successfully onboarded a total of 10,000+ users within a span of 3 months. Furthermore, we are proud to report that we have acquired over 50 paid customers who have subscribed for a period of 6 months. In addition to this, we have forged partnerships with over 10 schools to provide financial literacy and entrepreneurship education to their students, thereby serving as their educational partner.

What has 2023 changed for you? How are things now?

In 2022, we primarily focused on platform development, while 2023 has proven to be an even more fruitful year for us. Our proprietary games and courses have garnered significant positive feedback from children, while parents have expressed enthusiastic support for our mission to cultivate financial literacy skills in young learners. Additionally, we have received encouraging support from educational institutions, which has further reinforced our dedication to this cause. As we look forward to the remainder of 2023, we are excited about the opportunities for growth and expansion that lie ahead.

What are your growth priorities for 2023?

At present, our topmost growth priorities involve scaling our platform to serve a total of 150,000 free users and 25,000 paid customers. In addition to expanding our domestic reach, we are also exploring opportunities to expand our offerings on a global scale, with plans to make our international foray by the end of 2023. These strategic priorities are instrumental in furthering our mission to empower the next generation with the financial literacy and entrepreneurship skills they need to thrive in the modern world.

Funding

upsurge has raised INR 3 Crores in pre-seed funding from a clutch of a prominent angel and gaming-focused investors.