18-Year-Old Adarsh Kumar Raises Seed Funding to Power Skillzo’s Mission to upskill 1 million young minds
Mumbai: 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.
