TheCconnects: Shehaan Mune, it’s a pleasure to sit down with you. At just 16, you’ve already made waves in the edutech space as the Co-Founder and Chief Operating Officer of Prepshotz Edutech. Can you walk us through your journey, how did a high school student end up leading a mission to transform education?
Shehaan Mune: Thanks for having me! My journey started in the classroom, honestly. When I was 13, I noticed how many of my peers, including myself, struggled with traditional learning methods, textbooks felt disconnected from real-world applications. My brother and I started brainstorming ways to make learning more engaging and relevant. That’s when we came up with the idea for Prepshotz in 2022. We wanted to create digital tools that adapt to how students actually learn, not just force them to memorize. From there, it was a whirlwind of coding, pitching to schools, and refining our platform based on real feedback. By mid-2022, we had incorporated Prepshotz and rolled out pilots in five schools around Shimla. Seeing students engage 30% more and report 20% less academic stress was the spark that kept me going.
TheCconnects: That’s incredible for someone so young. Who’s been the biggest influence in shaping your vision and drive?
Shehaan Mune: My elder brother has been my biggest influence. He’s not just a co-founder but a mentor who pushes me to think bigger and stay grounded. He’s the one who taught me that innovation isn’t just about flashy tech, it’s about solving real problems for real people. Outside of family, I’d say people like Sal Khan from Khan Academy inspire me. His focus on making quality education accessible to everyone resonates deeply with what we’re trying to do at Prepshotz.
TheCconnects: You’ve accomplished so much already, but every journey has its hurdles. What’s been the toughest challenge you’ve faced, and how did you tackle it?
Shehaan Mune: Early on, convincing schools to adopt our platform was a massive challenge. Many educators were skeptical about digital tools, they worried about screen time or losing the human touch in teaching. We overcame this by focusing on data and feedback. During our Shimla pilots, we collected metrics showing how our gamified modules and virtual labs improved student outcomes, like a 40% faster lesson completion rate compared to traditional platforms. We also held workshops to train teachers, showing them how Prepshotz complements, not replaces, their work. Building that trust was tough but critical.
TheCconnects: That’s a smart approach, using data to build credibility. What’s the most valuable lesson you’ve learned from your entrepreneurial journey so far?
Shehaan Mune: One big lesson is that listening is more powerful than pitching. You can have the best product, but if you don’t understand your users, students, teachers, parents, it’s useless. We learned to iterate fast based on feedback. For example, our mindfulness breaks came directly from students saying they felt overwhelmed by constant assessments. Another lesson is resilience. When we sold Chemiverse, our first platform, to Unity, it was bittersweet. We’d built it to solve my own struggles with chemistry experiments, but letting it go taught me that impact matters more than attachment to an idea.
TheCconnects: Speaking of impact, let’s talk about the edutech landscape. What do you see as the biggest challenge for brands in this digital space?
Shehaan Mune: The biggest challenge is cutting through the noise. The edutech market in India is projected to hit $10 billion by 2027, but it’s crowded with platforms offering similar features. Standing out means focusing on personalization and accessibility. Many platforms still cater to urban, tech-savvy students, leaving rural learners behind. At Prepshotz, we’re tackling this by designing low-bandwidth solutions and partnering with NGOs to reach underserved schools. Only 20% of rural schools in India have digital learning access, closing that gap is both a challenge and an opportunity.
TheCconnects: That’s a bold mission. How does Prepshotz specifically address the pain points of students and educators?
Shehaan Mune: Our platform is built on three pillars: engagement, experiential learning, and stress reduction. For students, we use gamified modules with AI and blockchain scenarios to make learning feel like a game, not a chore. Our data shows users complete lessons 40% faster than on traditional platforms. For experiential learning, our virtual labs follow a 70/20/10 model, 70% hands-on, 20% social, 10% formal, which boosts skill acquisition by 25%. For educators, we reduce their workload with micro-assessments that cut grading time while giving real-time insights into student progress. And for stress? Our mindfulness breaks and adaptive pacing have reduced test anxiety by 15% in trials. It’s about creating a holistic experience that supports both learning and well-being.
TheCconnects: That’s a comprehensive approach. You’re also involved in other initiatives, like CyberTalk Tech Club and your upcoming podcast, CyberTalkz. How do you balance all these passions?
Shehaan Mune: I follow a strict schedule to balance my responsibilities. I dedicate mornings to Prepshotz, afternoons to schoolwork, and evenings to side projects like CyberTalkz or my internship with Network Science. I’m currently less involved in my startup due to my 12th-grade commitments, focusing instead on other activities to expand my horizons and hone my entrepreneurship skills. I also make time for football or tennis, with 60 minutes of daily exercise as per WHO guidelines to stay sharp. My MUN involvement, especially organizing events with YuvaMAAN, has taught me how to juggle multiple responsibilities while staying focused on impact.
TheCconnects: You mentioned CyberTalkz. Can you give us a sneak peek into what listeners can expect?
Shehaan Mune: Absolutely! CyberTalkz is launching soon, and it’s a podcast where I’ll dive into cybersecurity, AI, and edutech trends with industry experts and young innovators. The goal is to demystify tech for students and educators. For example, we’ll explore how blockchain can secure academic credentials or why cyber-attacks on schools jumped 25% from 2020 to 2022. It’s about sparking curiosity and showing how tech shapes our world.
TheCconnects: That sounds exciting! Switching gears, what do you do to unwind when you’re not revolutionizing education or coding?
Shehaan Mune: I’m a big football fan, playing, not just watching. There’s something about being on the field that clears my mind. I’ve also picked up tennis recently, which is a fun challenge. Beyond sports, I enjoy reading about geopolitics and current affairs. It’s not exactly “unwinding,” but diving into global issues helps me contextualize my work in edutech and cybersecurity.
TheCconnects: Your passion for learning is infectious. What advice would you give to aspiring entrepreneurs, especially young ones looking to break into edutech or tech?
Shehaan Mune: Start small, but think big. You don’t need a perfect product, just a problem you’re passionate about solving. Test your ideas early, even if it’s with a small group of friends or classmates. Second, learn to code or at least understand tech, it’s the language of innovation. Finally, don’t fear failure. Selling Chemiverse was tough, but it opened doors to bigger opportunities with Prepshotz. Stay curious, stay resilient, and surround yourself with people who challenge you to grow.
TheCconnects: Wise words from someone so young! One last question: where do you see Prepshotz and yourself in five years?
Shehaan Mune: In five years, I want Prepshotz to be in every rural school in India, impacting millions of students with personalized, accessible learning. We’re already exploring AI-driven analytics to predict learning gaps before they widen. Personally, I hope to be studying computer science or engineering at a top university while scaling Prepshotz globally. I also want CyberTalkz to inspire a generation of young tech leaders. The goal is to keep pushing for inclusive education and secure digital systems, there’s no ceiling to what we can achieve.
TheCconnects: Shehaan Mune, your vision is inspiring, and your work is already making a difference. Thank you for sharing your story with us.
Shehaan Mune: Thank you for the platform! I’m excited to keep building and learning.
