No Degree, No Worries Newton School Is Helping People Land Tech Jobs Anyway
Introduction
Newton School is one of India’s fastest-growing edtech startups, redefining how students and professionals transition into tech careers. Founded in 2019 by Siddharth Maheshwari and Nishant Chandra, the platform focuses on bridging the employability gap by offering affordable, outcome-driven programs in software development and data science. With its innovative “Pay After Placement” (PAP) model, Newton School ensures that students only pay once they secure a job, making quality education more accessible and trustworthy.
Founders & Origin Story
Siddharth Maheshwari, an IIT Roorkee graduate and serial entrepreneur, and Nishant Chandra, a former Unacademy product head, came together to build Newton School. Both founders noticed a problem: while India produces millions of engineering graduates every year, only a fraction are employable in tech roles due to lack of practical training.
The duo decided to launch Newton School in Bengaluru to bridge this gap. Starting with small batches and personalized mentorship, the platform quickly gained traction by offering structured coding bootcamps designed around industry needs. The founders’ mission was simple: democratize tech education and align success with student outcomes.
Business Model & Operations
Newton School runs on a multi-layered business model:
- Outcome-Based Bootcamps – Students undergo 6–12 month programs in full-stack development, data science, and AI. Fees are collected only after securing jobs above a threshold salary.
- B2C Online Learning – Direct to student courses with live classes, projects, and mentorship from industry professionals.
- B2B Partnerships – Newton collaborates with corporations, colleges, and government bodies to deliver upskilling programs and coding education.
- Subscription & Micro-courses – Learners can access short-term coding modules, interview prep sessions, and hackathons.
Growth & Revenue
Starting in 2019 with a handful of students, Newton School scaled rapidly due to its unique proposition and word-of-mouth success.
- In 2020, it raised $650K seed funding from Nexus Venture Partners and angel investors.
- By 2022, it had crossed thousands of student enrollments with hundreds placed in companies like Zomato, Flipkart, and Google.
- In 2023, the company expanded into new verticals like Newton School of Technology (NST), a full-fledged B.Tech program in partnership with Rishihood University.
- By 2024–25, Newton School had raised over $31 million across multiple rounds (from A91 Partners, Steadview Capital, and others), fueling product expansion and placement networks.
Revenues have grown steadily alongside student placements. While the company is still investing heavily in growth, its placement-led credibility continues to attract both learners and investors.
Economic & Social Impact
- Employment Generation – Thousands of students have secured jobs in India’s top tech firms, many being first-generation coders from Tier-2/3 towns.
- Democratizing Tech Careers – By removing upfront cost barriers, Newton School has made high-quality coding education accessible to middle-class families.
- Industry-Relevant Training – With mock interviews, live projects, and mentorship, graduates enter the job market ready to contribute from day one.
- Government & Institutional Partnerships – Programs like teaching Python to Class 9 girls in Telangana show Newton’s commitment to grassroots impact.
- Global Recognition – Students have gone on to secure roles internationally and participate in initiatives like Google Summer of Code.
Challenges
- Skepticism & Criticism – Some students and forums have questioned the transparency of placement claims, heavy marketing, and the credibility of degree-linked programs.
- High Dropout Risk – Many students from non-CS backgrounds struggle with the intensity of bootcamps, leading to dropout challenges.
- Regulatory & Accreditation Hurdles – With initiatives like NST, recognition and affiliations remain critical for long-term trust.
- Market Competition – Newton faces competition from players like Scaler, Masai School, and traditional universities, making differentiation crucial.
- Scaling Mentorship Quality – As student volume grows, ensuring personalized mentorship remains a challenge.
Future Plans
Newton School has ambitious plans to strengthen its leadership in India’s edtech landscape:
- Expansion into Tier-2/3 cities – Building local ecosystems to tap into India’s massive untapped talent pool.
- Global Outreach – Taking the PAP model to international markets where employability gaps exist.
- AI-Powered Learning – Leveraging AI for adaptive learning, automated feedback, and personalized skill tracking.
- More Degree Programs – Expanding NST into broader fields like AI/ML, fintech, and cybersecurity.
- Employer Partnerships – Deepening ties with Fortune 500 companies to ensure wider placement opportunities.
Conclusion
From a two-founder startup in Bengaluru to a multi-million-dollar edtech powerhouse, Newton School represents the rise of outcome-based education in India. By directly linking fees to job success, it has changed the way students perceive education investment.
Despite challenges around perception, competition, and scalability, Newton School’s journey reflects the future of practical, job-ready learning. If executed well, its model could redefine not just India’s coding education but also inspire similar movements globally.
Social media handles
- Website: newtonschool.co
- Facebook: facebook.com/newtonschool.co
- Twitter (X): twitter.com/newtonschoolhq
- Instagram: instagram.com/newtonschoolofficial
