I am certain you are aware of the Startup School that is running in parallel with the main schools. The first session which was experimental will be closing by end-May. Those who join this programme, which is primarily experiential and involves about 4 hours a week only, is in addition to their IB curriculum. Apart from a select faculty, the students are mentored by parent-mentors from each school. They are successful entrepreneurs and venture capitalists.

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The experiment has been hugely successful. In particular, the academic performance of the students has improved. This is attributed to the skill sets to organise and prioritise one’s work, in addition to the habit of self-directed learning.

Our students are doing well. A boy from grade 9 in Indus Pune has been felicitated by a person no less than Ratan Tata, for his contribution to the Earth. A young girl student from Indus Bangalore has been invited by Silicon Valley’s most prestigious event - TiE Con 21, to address 10,000 entrepreneurs on her journey of innovation and entrepreneurship. There are many others, and space does not permit me to include them.

There are three direct implications for those who will graduate from Indus and the Startup School: (1) Improved academic performance; (2) coveted placement choices in Ivy League colleges and universities; and (3) the option of starting a business immediately after school. I would like parents to encourage their children to take advantage of this great once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.