In India’s rapidly evolving edtech sector, Mukul Rustagi stands out as a visionary who’s empowering teachers rather than replacing them. As the co-founder and CEO of Classplus, Rustagi has led the charge in digitizing the operations of independent educators and coaching institutes across the country, making it easier for them to teach, scale, and monetize in the digital age. From setbacks to success, his journey is a powerful testament to entrepreneurial resilience and innovation.

Building a Vision from IIT Roorkee to EdTech Boardrooms

An alumnus of IIT Roorkee, Mukul Rustagi started his career as a Financial Derivatives Analyst at Futures First. While his initial stint in finance sharpened his analytical and market instincts, it was his entrepreneurial spirit that ultimately set him on a different path. In 2015, he teamed up with Bhaswat Agarwal to explore the burgeoning edtech market. Their first venture faced early challenges and was shuttered by 2017. But the duo remained undeterred.

The breakthrough came in 2018 with the launch of Classplus—a mobile-first SaaS platform designed specifically for educators. The platform enables teachers to manage operations, distribute content, engage students, and handle payments through a single digital interface. Unlike most edtech companies targeting students, Rustagi’s bet was on empowering tutors directly, especially in Tier II and Tier III India.

Democratizing Education Through Technology

Rustagi’s core insight was simple yet powerful: most educators lacked the technological know-how and tools to take their classes online, even as students increasingly turned to digital platforms for learning. Classplus filled this gap.

The startup’s B2B approach helped thousands of coaching centers and educators build personalized apps, digitize their content, and connect with a wider audience. Whether it’s a UPSC coach in Jaipur or a dance instructor in Kochi, Classplus provides them the digital infrastructure to grow independently.

This user-first mindset paid off. By 2023, Classplus was powering over 100,000 educators, with a significant user base spread across 3,000+ cities and towns. Its impact goes beyond numbers—it’s enabling self-reliance among India’s vast educator base.

Growth, Recognition, and Industry Impact

Under Mukul Rustagi’s leadership, Classplus has raised substantial funding from investors like Blume Ventures, Tiger Global, and RTP Global, pushing its valuation into the spotlight as one of India’s fastest-growing edtech startups.

His disruptive vision hasn’t gone unnoticed. Rustagi was named in Forbes India’s 30 Under 30 and Forbes Asia’s 30 Under 30 in 2021, and more recently featured in Fortune India’s 40 Under 40 in 2024. These recognitions highlight his growing influence in the startup and edtech ecosystems.

Beyond accolades, Rustagi’s leadership has sparked a shift in how education is delivered in India. Rather than replacing traditional teaching models, he has redefined how tutors adapt to digital environments, especially post-pandemic.

Facing the Challenges Head-On

Like any startup journey, Rustagi’s path wasn’t without hurdles. Convincing educators to adopt technology required not just innovation but also trust-building. Many educators were skeptical of digital platforms, fearing loss of control or dilution of quality.

Rustagi tackled this with a robust support system—product onboarding, training modules, and continuous feedback loops. As Classplus scaled, the platform evolved with features like CRM dashboards, course analytics, and white-label mobile apps to meet diverse educator needs.

The larger challenge was scale and sustainability. Yet, the team focused on creating a product that was light, mobile-native, and tailored to India’s infrastructural realities. That strategic clarity enabled rapid adoption even in remote towns with limited connectivity.

The Road Ahead: AI, Automation, and Global Aspirations

Looking forward, Mukul Rustagi aims to infuse Classplus with cutting-edge technologies like AI-powered personalization, automated assessment tools, and smart analytics. These advancements aim to help educators offer more adaptive and personalized learning paths for students.

International expansion is also on the horizon, with Southeast Asia and the Middle East identified as key markets with similar fragmented tutoring ecosystems.

Rustagi’s long-term vision is to build a robust ecosystem that goes beyond content delivery—one that includes educator financing, merchandising, and community engagement. Classplus, under his stewardship, is evolving into a comprehensive educator-enablement platform.

Conclusion

Mukul Rustagi’s entrepreneurial journey exemplifies the power of a focused vision and empathetic leadership. In an edtech space dominated by student-facing giants, Rustagi chose to empower the often-overlooked educators—and the gamble paid off. With Classplus now at the center of India’s tutoring transformation, Rustagi’s influence is not just reshaping how education is delivered—it’s redefining who delivers it and how.