18-Year-Old Adarsh Kumar Raises Seed Funding to Power Skillzo’s Mission to upskill 1 million young minds with Backing from Dot Media’s Shubham Singhal
Mumbai, 3rd July, 2025: Skillzo, led by 18 years old Adarsh Kumar, raises seed funding backed by DOT Media founders Shubham Singhal, Vaibhav Pathak, and Om Singh, along with Dr. Ananta Singh Raghuvanshi, Chairperson, Mahi NAREDCO, and former CEO of DLF, Emaar MGF & Damac Properties, Rahul Bapat (Tokyo, Japan), Chanakya Shah Founder CEO – Holistique Business Consulting , and Priya Shah Real Estate Financing Veteran. Skillzo is a free platform empowering high school students with real-world experience, offering curated entrepreneurship programs, hands-on workshops, 1:1 mentorship, and a vibrant community to help teens turn ideas into projects and future startups.
Founded by Adarsh Kumar when he was in Class 10 at the young age of just 15 years, currently Adarsh is a Class 12 student of Jayshree Periwal High School – Jaipur. Skillzo is a true story of Bihari grit, sheer persistence, and a desire to build something for the “Bharat” part of India. It is an impact-first platform empowering high school students across India with exposure, experience, and networks to thrive in the 21st century.
Commenting on the milestone, Adarsh Kumar, Founder, Skillzo said, “Skillzo was born out of a simple belief that every student, no matter their background, deserves access to opportunity, exposure, and a platform to grow. This seed funding isn’t just a milestone for us; it’s a significant step forward in our mission to upskill 1 million young minds across Bharat and beyond. With the support of Shubham Singhal, Dr. Ananta Raghuvanshi, Rahul Bapat, Chanakya Shah, and Priya Shah, I’m confident we’ll accelerate our efforts and reach even more students. Their belief in my vision and their backing at this early stage means a lot and I’m committed to putting this first round of seed funding to meaningful and impactful use.”
Sharing his thoughts on backing Skillzo, Shubham Singal, CEO and Co-Founder of Dot media, shares, “Adarsh is just 18, yet his vision and determination is that of seasoned founders. From the time he interned with us at Dot Media, I saw his extraordinary talent and his commitment to building something bigger than himself. Skillzo is a powerful example of how a young changemaker can transform opportunity gaps into pathways of hope for thousands of students across Bharat. It’s a privilege to support Adarsh on his journey. He proves that even at this young age, you can build a movement that truly uplifts.”
Adarsh’s journey from Motihari, Bihar to Kota, Chandigarh, Gurgaon, and now Jayshree Periwal Jaipur on a full scholarship, has been full of ups and downs. From owning just one pair of clothes and having no money, to now traveling by flights and being hosted by amazing mentors like Mohit Satyanand, Shraddha Sharma, Shubham Singhal, Rashmi Singh, Arunabh Sinha, and many more in their homes and hearts, Adarsh’s path has been one of relentless learning and growth.
Following a successful seed funding round led by prominent investors, Adarsh Kumar and Skillzo are set to accelerate their mission of investing in expanded programs, mentorship, and technology to empower 1 million students across India with real-world skills and entrepreneurial opportunities.
Achievements by Adarsh Kumar:
Founded and scaled Skillzo to reach over 20,000 students across India, especially from underserved communities.
Designed and led entrepreneurial programs, workshops, and mentorship initiatives in partnership with IIT Guwahati, IIT Madras, and other leading institutions.
Built and managed a thriving community, giving students access to real-world projects, global opportunities, and leadership training.
Organized speaker sessions, competitions, and interactive events to foster 21st-century skills like problem-solving, storytelling, and collaboration.
Created Skillzo Stories, a storytelling series that amplifies student journeys and creates narrative-based impact.
Collaborated with educators, startups, and policy forums to bridge the opportunity gap in education.
Launched the 1:1 Mentorship Program, connecting high school students with mentors, professionals, and startup founders for personalized guidance and long-term growth.
Flagship Programs & Impact:
IgniteBharat: Trained 3,000+ rural students in Bihar through entrepreneurship videos, investor pitch sessions, and one-on-one mentorship.
Sparkle (with IIT Guwahati): A high school entrepreneurship program impacting 13,000+ students (across 2 seasons) through workshops and startup competitions, distributing $6,000 in awards.
Education-21 (with IIT Madras): A 16-week-long entrepreneurship program for 1,500 students (Grades 6–12), featuring Oxford MBA alumni and industry experts.
Student outcomes: Mentored students who went on to become IRIS Science Fair finalists, TEDx speakers, Diana Award winners, and startup founders.
Guided Skillzo mentees toward full-ride admissions to programs at Oxford, Harvard, and other world-class institutions.
Adarsh has come a long way, from meeting mentors through a school entrepreneurship program organized by Navya Mehta in Chandigarh to now being mentored and supported by top-tier founders across industries. He has also participated in leading programs like IIT Delhi, BITS Pilani Goa, LaunchX USA, and partnered with TechSparks in Mumbai.
Currently pursuing his Class 12 at Jayshree Periwal High School, Jaipur, Adarsh is soon launching his podcast series “Adarsh Bihari”, where he will speak with top industry founders, CXOs, government officers, and other achievers. His mission: To upskill 1 million students across India this year.