What if the real digital divide isn’t about internet access, but about who gets to build the future?
In this episode of the Exitfund Podcast, Dr. Gunjan Jhajharia—PhD, entrepreneur, and co-founder of Aaklan—shares her journey bringing hands-on tech education to schools across India’s heartland.From AI and robotics to entrepreneurship and patents, Dr. Gunjan’s team is proving that world-class skills don’t have to stay in the metros—and that kids in tier-3 and rural India are more than ready to invent, build, and lead.
We discuss:
Why most “digital education” leaves rural schools behind—and how Aaklan’s hybrid, B2B model works instead
How Dr. Gunjan went from a biology path to tech entrepreneurship (with a few detours through family expectations and a pandemic village escape)
What it really takes to implement tech education in small-town India: recruiting, training, and promising real, in-person trainers
The surprising openness of rural school leaders—and the real barriers that hold them back
Why Dr. Gunjan teaches mindset, meditation, and sensory skills alongside coding and robotics
Aaklan’s business model, growth across 5 states, and why local language matters for scaling impact
How her students are already launching startups, winning patents, and solving real farm problems
Whether you care about education, rural development, or building impact startups in tough markets, Dr. Gunjan’s story will challenge what you think is possible.
