Former Flipkart Executives Peeyush Ranjan, Mukesh Bansal Launch AI-First Edtech Startup Fermi.ai

Former senior executives from Google, Airbnb and Flipkart have launched a new edtech startup, Fermi.ai, positioning it as an AI-driven learning platform focused on strengthening conceptual understanding for high-school students in STEM subjects, as per Moneycontrol report. 

Founders, Structure and Launch Context 

Fermi.ai was launched on January 23 by Peeyush Ranjan, former CTO of Flipkart and an ex-executive at Google and Airbnb, along with Mukesh Bansal, co-founder of Myntra. The startup has emerged from the Meraki Labs ecosystem and is headquartered in Singapore, with subsidiaries operating in India and the United States.  

The platform is currently available free on the cloud as it remains in a pilot and product-discovery phase. The launch comes amid a broader recalibration in the edtech sector following a funding boom-and-bust cycle, even as generative AI tools such as ChatGPT become increasingly embedded in student learning workflows.  

As per report, Ranjan said, “Students are getting answers faster than ever but their understanding is getting weaker. Learning happens through productive struggle. What we’ve tried to build is an AI tutor that supports that struggle instead of replacing it.” 

Product Design, AI Approach and Learning Philosophy 

Unlike many AI-powered learning tools that provide instant solutions, Fermi.ai is designed to guide students step by step without revealing final answers.  

The platform uses a stylus-first, canvas-based interface that allows students to write equations, draw diagrams and work through problems in a format closer to pen-and-paper learning.  

It currently covers mathematics, physics and chemistry and is built around four core components: an adaptive real-time tutor, a handwriting-first canvas, a curriculum-linked concept graph with an exam-aligned question bank covering AP, IB and JEE, and diagnostic tools that identify where student reasoning breaks down.  

Pilot Results, Rollout Plans and Monetisation 

Ahead of the launch, Fermi.ai ran a 3 month pilot involving 79 students and more than 15,000 concept tests.  

According to company data, students who initially scored 2 out of 10 or lower improved by an average of 4.68 points by their final attempts, while overall mastery scores increased by 2.6 points between early and later practice sessions.  

Pilots are currently running in Bengaluru, North India and Silicon Valley, with discussions underway to expand to additional regions.  

Read More: AI and Semiconductor Manufacturing to Drive Job Growth in India by 2030: MeitY Secretary! 

Conclusion 

With its pilot-backed approach, hands-on rollout strategy and emphasis on guided learning over instant answers, Fermi.ai is entering the edtech space with a focus on refining product effectiveness before pursuing large-scale expansion. 

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