They Teach You to Code. You Pay Later. That’s Masai School’s Magic Formula

Introduction

Masai School is one of India’s most famous edtech startups, known for its mission to transform job-seekers into skilled professionals through intensive, outcome-based learning. Founded in 2019 by Prateek Shukla, Yogesh Bhat, and Nrupul Dev, Masai School has become a leading player in the coding bootcamp ecosystem. Its unique “Pay After Placement” (PAP) model and rigorous training have made it a trusted bridge between students and employers, especially for those from Tier-2 and Tier-3 cities.

Founders & Origin Story

Prateek Shukla, an IIT Kanpur graduate and serial entrepreneur, co-founded Masai School with industry experts Yogesh Bhat and Nrupul Dev.

• Prateek, after working with Grabhouse, observed that a large chunk of India’s youth remained unemployable despite holding degrees.
• Yogesh and Nrupul, both experienced in product and technology roles, joined the mission to create a military-style coding bootcamp that could transform raw talent into employable professionals.

The name Masai is inspired by the Maasai tribe of Africa, who are known for their discipline, resilience, and survival skills qualities the founders wanted to instill in their students.

Business Model & Operations

Masai School operates on a multi-pronged model focused on employability and skill-building:

1. Full-Time Coding Bootcamps – 6 to 12 month intensive programs in Full Stack Web Development, Data Analytics, and UI/UX Design.
3. Pay After Placement (PAP) – Students pay fees only after securing jobs with salaries above a defined threshold, ensuring trust and accountability. 
4. Partnership Programs – Collaborates with colleges, corporates, and government initiatives to provide tech training. 
5. MasaiX – A vertical focused on advanced career growth programs for working professionals. 
6. B2B Hiring Network – Provides companies with pre-trained, job-ready candidates. 

Growth & Revenue

Masai School started with small coding batches in Bengaluru in 2019. Within just a few years, it scaled significantly:

• In 2020, raised $2.5 million in seed funding led by Unitus Ventures. 
• By 2021, secured $5 million Series A funding with participation from Omidyar Network, India Quotient, and others. 
• In 2022, raised $10 million Series B from Omidyar Network India, Alteria Capital, and Unitus Ventures. 
• By 2023, Masai had trained 7,000+ students and onboarded over 1,200 hiring partners including Swiggy, Ola, Meesho, and Dream11. 

Revenue jumped steadily, crossing ₹94 crore in FY 2023, driven by higher student enrollments and placements. While operating costs remain high due to aggressive expansion, the school is steadily moving toward profitability.

Economic & Social Impact

1. Democratizing Education – By eliminating upfront fees, Masai has opened pathways for students from small towns who couldn’t otherwise afford coding education. 
2. First-Generation Coders – Many students come from non-tech or non-metro backgrounds, often becoming the first in their families to enter IT jobs. 
3. Women in Tech – Through scholarships and targeted programs, Masai has increased female participation in coding. 
4. Employer Confidence – Masai’s bootcamp grads are hired at companies like Ola, ShareChat, Urban Company, and Capgemini. 
5. Skill-Focused Training – The school emphasizes discipline, long study hours, and real-world projects bridging the gap between academia and industry. 

Challenges

1. High Intensity Programs – The “military-style” training requires 9–11 hours of daily classes, leading to dropouts for students unable to cope. 
2. Competition – Rivals like Scaler, Newton School, and traditional edtech platforms pose market challenges. 
3. Scaling Mentorship – Maintaining quality mentorship with growing student batches is difficult. 
4. Skepticism – Some critics argue about transparency in placements and the sustainability of the PAP model. 
5. Job Market Fluctuations – Global tech layoffs in 2023–24 made placements more challenging, impacting student trust. 

Future Plans

Masai School is looking to expand beyond just coding:

• New Programs – Data science, fintech, and AI/ML courses to cater to emerging tech needs. 
• Tier-2 & Tier-3 Expansion – Offline and hybrid models to reach deeper into India’s talent pool. 
• Corporate Training – Partnering with enterprises for reskilling employees. 
• Global Outreach – Exporting its PAP model to international markets in Southeast Asia and Africa. 
• AI-Integrated Learning – Using AI to track student progress, automate evaluations, and provide adaptive learning paths. 

Conclusion

From a small coding bootcamp to a national edtech leader, Masai School has played a pivotal role in reshaping India’s employability landscape. Its Pay After Placement model has built trust in a market where affordability and accountability are major concerns.

While challenges like scaling, competition, and transparency persist, Masai School’s strong vision and impact-driven model continue to attract students and investors alike. By 2027, Masai aims to train over 100,000 students and become one of India’s largest job-oriented education platforms marking a new era in outcome-based education.

Social Media Presence

• Website: masaischool.com
• Facebook: facebook.com/MasaiSchool
• Twitter (X): twitter.com/masaischool
• Instagram: instagram.com/masaischool
• LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/masai-school
• YouTube: youtube.com/@MasaiSchool