The Circle India Kickstarts ‘Reinventing the Republic’ in Pune to Transform Education
Pune, 11th February 2025: The Circle India, an organization reinventing education in India by incubating education entrepreneurs, has launched its Reinventing the Republic campaign in Pune. This immersive, multi-city showcase highlights transformative education models and will span three cities—Pune, Mumbai, and Bengaluru—spotlighting six phenomenal schools and after-school programs reimagining what learning can look like for underserved communities across India.
The organisation runs five programs in Pune, including empowering 500 young people to use AI, an art and literacy-focused initiative, career counselling for marginalized students, a digital-first school model and a holistic afterschool space working with more than 900 kids across the Peths of Pune. “The Circle intends to grow and expand across the city of Pune, ensuring that all kids from low-income communities have access to an excellent education and a reinvented school. The city’s embedded fabric of technology and manufacturing make it a hub for innovation” said Sandeep Rai, Founder, The Circle India.
The Circle has incubated 30+ entrepreneurs, launched 18 programs for 5,000+ students, and engaged 8,500 educators nationwide. “Our goal is to reach 25,000 students by 2028, ensuring that more children from underserved communities have access to innovative and future-ready education,” emphasized Sandeep. The entrepreneurs are part of a rigorous two-year program that provides them with the resources and mentorship to design and launch innovative schools and after-school centers tailored to modern challenges.
One such entrepreneur, Mandar Kulkarni, Founder of THE Labs, an ethical technology-focused after-school program empowering children to shape the future shared, “The Circle Incubation helped reshape my leadership, providing mentorship and support that allowed me to balance intuition with structure. I evolved from a shy introvert to someone who thrives in fundraising and collaboration. The Circle embraced my idea, guided my pivot to an after-school model, and helped me uncover strengths I never knew. I hope more entrepreneurs find the unwavering support of communities like The Circle, driving India’s transformation.”
The event hosted thought leaders, corporate executives, and philanthropists, including Ashok Desai, Former Chief Consultant to the Minister of Finance who shared valuable insights on the evolving education landscape in India.
The campaign featured collaborations in Pune with Panaah Communities, founded by Mohammad Shoeb, equipping children and youth from high-need communities with future-ready skills; ROSHINI Foundation, led by Pravin Nikam, mentoring marginalized students for higher education success; and THE Labs, founded by Mandar Kulkarni, an ethical technology-focused after-school program empowering children to shape the future.
