Education systems across the world struggle with one common problem. Many children fear mathematics. Neelakantha Bhanu believes this fear comes from how maths is taught, not from the subject itself. Along with Devulapalli Lakshmi Prachotan, Alluru Uday Kiran and Jonnalagadda Sai Krishnakanth, he founded Bhanzu, a learning platform focused on building confidence in maths.

Bhanu’s link with mathematics began early. He started competing in maths contests when he was around 10 years old. Over time, he set several world records in mental calculation. By the age of 17, schools, colleges and companies invited him to speak about maths learning.

Between his teenage years and early twenties, Bhanu conducted close to 500 stage sessions across 23 countries. These sessions showed how maths could be solved faster with logic and practice. He also tried to change how people viewed the subject. His goal was simple. Maths should feel familiar, not frightening.

Early Exposure to the Classroom Gap

While teaching and travelling, Bhanu noticed a pattern. Many students did not lack ability. They lacked confidence. Maths felt rigid and abstract. Teaching focused on memorising steps instead of understanding numbers.

This gap stayed with him.

One of Bhanu’s early large projects came from the Government of Telangana. The state wanted to improve numeracy in government schools. The programme was called Infinity. Bhanu helped design the learning approach.

The project began with 30 schools. Within a year, it expanded to more than 3,000 schools. By the third year, it reached nearly 5,000 schools. Volunteers helped deliver lessons. The focus stayed on clarity, speed and practice.

When the Covid-19 pandemic shut schools, the programme moved online. Classes continued without long breaks. The results encouraged the team to think beyond one state.

Infinity later became Bhanzu.

From Public Programme to Private Platform

Bhanzu grew out of the Telangana project. The founders decided to build a structured education company that could scale across regions and age groups.

The founding team brought clear roles. Bhanu took charge as founder and CEO. Prachotan handled business development. Uday Kiran managed operations. Sai Krishnakanth led research and development, focusing on curriculum and teaching methods.

Bhanu often explains the core problem in simple terms. Many children fear maths because they do not relate to it. This fear affects academic choices and career paths.

Bhanzu aims to solve this early. The platform works on number sense, mental calculation and step-by-step problem solving. Lessons move at a steady pace. Concepts build over time.

Online Model With Structured Teaching

Bhanzu currently runs fully online classes. Students attend live sessions with trained teachers. Practice exercises follow each class. Teachers track progress and adjust lessons when needed.

The platform does not rely on shortcuts alone. Students first learn logic. Speed comes later. This approach helps reduce mistakes and builds confidence.

Parents receive regular updates. They know what their children are learning and how they are improving. This keeps families involved in the process.

Bhanzu plans to add offline centres within the next year to year and a half. These centres will support classroom learning and teacher training.

Expansion Beyond India

Bhanzu now operates in several countries. These include the US, UK, Australia and parts of the Middle East and South Asia. A growing share of revenue comes from outside India.

The founders say maths education travels well across borders. Many Indian and Asian families seek stronger numeracy skills for their children. Bhanzu’s model fits this demand.

The platform adapts lessons to local curricula while keeping the core teaching method intact.

Funding and Investor Support

Bhanzu has raised multiple rounds of funding. The company recently secured $16.5 million in Series B funding from venture capital firms.

Lightspeed Venture Partners backed Bhanzu early. Partner Shuvi Shrivastava says the firm invested before the platform launched. He points to Bhanu’s teaching approach and the size of the market.

Investors also note that maths remains a core subject across all education systems. Demand for better learning tools continues to rise.

Bhanu’s public profile helps with trust, but investors say outcomes matter more than fame.

Focus on Teaching Method

Bhanzu spends significant effort on pedagogy. The research team designs lessons that focus on understanding numbers. Memorisation takes a back seat.

Teachers receive training on how to explain concepts in simple terms. Classes avoid pressure and time stress. Mistakes become part of learning.

This structure aims to build long-term comfort with maths, not short-term scores.

A Clear Long-Term Goal

Bhanu has long shown interest in education policy and public systems. Despite offers to pursue research or jobs in other sectors, he chose education during the pandemic.

He believes education offers the widest impact.

Bhanzu’s goal is direct. The company wants to reach 100 million children in five years. Bhanu wants Bhanzu to become the world’s largest maths education company, built from India.

Growth plans include new markets, more teachers and improved learning tools. The founders say quality will guide expansion.

Changing the Maths Mindset

Bhanzu frames maths as a skill anyone can learn. Talent matters less than practice and teaching. This message resonates with parents who struggled with maths themselves.

From government classrooms to global online sessions, Bhanzu has grown through a clear idea. Maths should feel simple and familiar.

As education technology grows, Bhanzu shows that subject depth and teaching clarity can scale together. The challenge ahead lies in growth without losing focus.

For Bhanu and his team, the aim stays constant. Remove fear. Build confidence. Teach maths one step at a time.

FAQs

Q1. Who is Neelakantha Bhanu?
Neelakantha Bhanu is an Indian mathematician and the founder and CEO of Bhanzu.

Q2. What is Bhanzu?
Bhanzu is an online maths education platform that focuses on mental maths and core numeracy skills.

Q3. Where does Bhanzu operate?
Bhanzu operates in India, the US, UK, Australia and parts of the Middle East and South Asia.

Q4. How much funding has Bhanzu raised?
Bhanzu recently raised $16.5 million in a Series B funding round.