While Richa Singh and Prashant Pareek, corporate professionals-turned-entrepreneurs, may have cracked the code with digits; the duo quite understands how numbers leave a sizable majority at their wits end! And just this year, they devised LetsMath — an app, which aims to offer quality Math education to gen-next — through an interactive and readily accessible online platform. In a freewheeling chat, they crunch some numbers.
“After five years of an investment-banking job, I was not content with being just an employee and wanted to become a change maker. I decided to let go of a profession that uses Math to make the world artificially complex by creating exotic investment instruments and rather, chose one that demystifies the Math behind day to day activities,” reasons, about choosing to tread the entrepreneurial path.
While starting up was probably never on the cards, the intent to help youngsters overcome their fear towards the “widely hated” subject was.
“Personally, it concerned me when I saw young girls or women in general say that Math is not their cup of tea. We believe Math is a life skill and no matter what you do, you will need it,” adds the 32 year old alumnus of IIT Delhi.
As for Prashant, it was a first hand experience in teaching that egged him .“During my days as a GMAT instructor, I acquainted a student, who was struggling with the basics. He found it really helpful when I started teaching him by asking questions. Every answer of his prompted a new question from me that led to more and more thinking on his part. This is where I got the inspiration to create an app that teaches by asking questions.”
With over 3000+ students on board in less than two months, the responses have been encouraging enough. “The first step was to demonstrate our Math expertise by solving any question they threw our way. These classes not only retain the interactive flavour of our learning style but enhance it further through the use of audio, whiteboard and real time polls. The teachers are anybody with a passion for Math and some spare time on hand. We’re glad people are trusting on new age ways to learn a subject,” mentions Richa.
Despite their days been tight-packed, unwinding always finds a place. “In my spare time, I write songs and play the guitar. I had formed a band called Filhaal that played original songs and performed at a few venues. I find solace in the freedom inherent in music.”
Adding to the same, Richa shares, “I love reading both fiction and non-fiction. I am also a nature lover and totally dig trekking! Recently, I have been trying to gain some knowledge about gardening and experiment with it as well.”
Ready to take on the challenges ahead, Prashant signs off by stating “A constant challenge is to stay inspired even when multiple things go wrong in a single day. But you’ve to persevere by choosing not to believe in the wisdom of the
masses.”
