AR and VR technologies are transforming learning experience through lifelike simulations that bridge theoretical knowledge and practical applications
It creates highly interactive and realistic training modules for educational institutions, corporate houses and government departments
The startup is backed by iStart Rajasthan, a state-led initiative to empower local startups through funding, mentoring and infrastructure support
Moving from traditional school programmes to online/remote learning propelled the edtech sector during the Covid-19 pandemic. Now, a new learning choice rooted in immersive technologies like augmented and virtual reality (AR and VR) is making its way into mainstream education.
AR-VR-powered edtech solutions are totally different from routine teaching and learning. Simply put, students interact with their virtual surroundings (true-to-life simulations presenting specific topics) for enhanced engagement, experimentation and collaboration. As education becomes hands-on and experiential, it also supports personal learning styles, an approach rarely adopted by traditional classrooms.
Pure-play virtual reality schools do not pop up in India every day. But Nikhil Bhatnagar and Sakshi Pawar were aware that VR learning would be a huge and growing industry in the near future. They launched SparkVR in 2022, determined to take problems out of textbooks and put them in the virtual space for an immersive experience and thorough understanding.
“Imagine a student putting on a VR headset and instantly getting inside a human heart. They can see the blood flow, watch the valves open and feel the heartbeat. This leap from static images to fully immersive experiences is what SparkVR envisions for the future of education,” Bhatnagar pointed out.
With a degree in computer science and exposure to artificial intelligence and virtual reality, Bhatnagar had first-hand experience in the education space for more than a decade. So, he decided to build various tailored solutions for academic learning, customised modules for corporate training and realistic simulations for the army. The mission is to boost skill acquisition through lifelike learning environments.
The startup now works with five schools and two universities, majorly based in Rajasthan. It clocked revenue of INR 15 Lakh in FY24 through B2B subscriptions and eyes a 40x leap to reach INR 6 Cr in the current financial year. It also aims to build a 1K-strong network, including government partnerships, to bring advanced technologies to the education landscape.
SparkVR is backed by iStart Rajasthan, a state-led initiative to empower local startups through funding, mentoring and infrastructure support. It also raised INR 50 Lakh from Royal Scottish Investment.
Beyond Smart Classes: How SparkVR Upped Tech Play To Boost Learning
Smart classrooms with whiteboards (displays loaded with text, images, pre-recorded audio-video lessons and more) are not a novel concept. But the SparkVR founder focussed on designing a system beyond existing solutions. He wanted learning to be fast and effective, accessible and affordable so that parents would not have to pay a premium.
“We noticed how countries like the UK, the US and Russia rapidly adopted VR. It sparked the idea – why shouldn’t we bring this innovation to the Indian education system? VR can significantly enhance the learning experience for both students and teachers,” said Bhatnagar.
Peppermint’s revenue model is built on a diverse range of offerings designed to meet the needs of its customers. This includes the sale of robots or proprietary technologies, providing businesses with cutting-edge automation solutions. Additionally, the company offers Annual Maintenance Contracts (AMC) and software upgrade packs, ensuring that clients have access to continuous improvements and system optimizations. Furthermore, Peppermint delivers data-driven value-added services, enabling customers to enhance their operations through real-time insights and analytics, further driving efficiency and productivity across their businesses.
The model is pretty simple. Users only need VR headsets and strong internet connections to access top-notch learning experiences. The startup collaborates with school teachers to develop and update its educational content quarterly, ensuring that students and educators can always access the latest study materials.
What sets it apart from similar ventures is its use of 6DoF (six degrees of freedom) technology, offering a high level of realism and interactivity. This advanced tech enables users to move and interact naturally within the VR space for better communication, deeper understanding of the topic and improved learning.
Corporate employees can also create personalised avatars to attend virtual training for professional upskilling. Students, too, can interact with virtual guides to explore campus facilities and courses at universities and communicate with administrators.
SparkVR has integrated analytics tools to track user engagement and performance that help enhance training processes and optimise learning outcomes. Its software and content modules are fully compatible with the Meta VR headsets it currently provides. However, the startup will manufacture the hardware when semiconductor production (along with advanced chips) begins in India.
To deepen the immersive learning experience in schools, it will set up dedicated VR labs, each costing around INR 6 Lakh. In addition, INR 6K will be charged per VR device for content subscription. It is also working on AR-based learning models to make learning even more immersive and meaningful.
Talent Woes And iStart’s Hand-Holding
“As a fast-growing startup working in AR-VR education space and focussing on Metaverse technologies, it is a constant struggle to find professionals with the right technical expertise and creative vision,” observed Bhatnagar.
It is not surprising. Tech startups often face a significant talent crunch, as the demand for skilled professionals far exceeds the available supply. India ranks seventh globally in terms of talent shortage, with 81% of employers struggling to find qualified workers, according to a 2024 ManpowerGroup Employment Outlook survey.
To bridge the talent gap, SparkVR invests in internal training to upskill its existing teams and help them excel in more advanced roles. It also connects with edtech platforms and industry networks to identify top talent at an early stage for targeted recruitment.
Talent shortage also leads to hurdles in scaling up, making it difficult to maintain quality standards and innovation momentum. However, the Jabalpur-based startup who also has its team in Rajasthan got extensive support from iStart Rajasthan to overcome these challenges.
“iStart mentored us, provided resources and offered networking opportunities. Its hand-holding and our strategic focus on team building and recruitment allowed us to navigate these problems,” said Bhatnagar.
Will AR-VR Integration Drive Indian Edtech?
Adopting immersive technologies at scale can benefit India in more ways than one. As the country races towards 100% literacy, a core theme of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, schools are gearing up for a tech makeover to empower students.
According to a recent ResearchGate report, 75% of public school students in India want VR to replace existing teaching methods. On the other hand, 86% of private school students are keen to use it as a supplementary learning tool. Given this shift in focus from rote learning, around 50% of Indian schools may soon adopt immersive technologies. It also means homegrown extended reality (XR) startups like SparkVR, ClassVR and the rest will witness growth opportunities as never before.
Although India-specific numbers are not available yet to quantify this growth, the global AR-VR market in the education space is estimated to reach $14.2 Bn by 2028 from $3.8 Bn in 2023, at a CAGR of 29.6%.
A leap towards immersive technologies will have its challenges, though. For starters, traditional courseware has to be spun on its head and simulations of complex concepts will have to be developed, focussing on spatial thinking.
A robust internet infrastructure, advanced software, and affordable headsets and visors are equally crucial for seamless content streaming and constant dialogue between users and educators. After all, AR-VR education is more than putting users into headsets for the long term with zero human interventions. It is all about identifying critical areas of learning (say, STEM education) and reconceptualising those as supplemental programmes to ensure equitable, inclusive and quality education.
Educational institutions in India have been laggards in adopting new technologies and learning systems. Now that several AR-VR startups spearhead the change, will they adopt these cutting-edge edtech solutions at scale minus the downsides?
By Inc42 Media
Source: Inc42 Media