Ankur Jain & Nitin Parmar Founders: Connect2MBA

The scope of the website can be gauged from the fact that the number of people visiting the site has been growing steadily on a daily basis. The most unique feature of this site is that it serves an MBA aspirant or professional right from the time he/she resolves to pursue it to the time the person reaches the culmination of his/her corporate life. The model includes an association of education institutes, job consultants, subject experts, online MBA coaching providers and budding entrepreneurs. It provides complete information and channelises its flow effectively and efficiently to benefit its users in the best possible way.

As for the expansion of the undertaking, Jain has devised a two-pronged strategy, namely online expansion and offline expansion. While the former will involve achieving organic growth by means of strengthening of the association mentioned above, the latter will include partnering with MBA coaching institutes, B-schools and corporate bodies. Some of these milestones have already been achieved, including tying up with prominent job consultants in the country, reputed online CAT coaching institutes and building a network of eminent subject experts around.

Jain’s vision for Connect2MBA is to make it India’s most preferred networking platform in the MBA domain by 2009, with more than 25K registered users.

When asked why he opted for becoming an entrepreneur instead of pursuing a cushy 9-5 job, Jain said, “I always wanted to contribute to the development of the education sector, and this initiative is a small step in that direction.” 

One of the biggest challenges facing the enterprise, which is still establishing, is to engage visitors in a constructive way and increase the site usage. “We are successful in getting the first-time registrations. The hits on the site are increasing with every passing day and so are the number of users and partners. The response is phenomenal, but the involvement level of visitors is still oscillating. We have plans to come up with score of additional creative initiatives that will involve them much more,” asserted Jain.

It may seem to be a gigantic venture, but surprisingly, when Jain started off with his entrepreneurial journey, all he needed was his personal savings. Today, the website is associated with some of the most acclaimed job consultants and education institutes in the country, and this, Jain claims, is his biggest achievement so far.

Joining Ankur in his endevour is Nitin who brings with him strong expertise in education domain. Ankur says with pride about his co founder,"Nitin started an education and training organisation from zero, where he raised the organisation to a nationally reputable place in a very difficult market. He has been involved in teaching for sometime. He feels that teaching helps him to stick to the ground, to understand learning needs of graduates, their aspirations. He has been involved in preparing varieties of course for various competitive examinations, with expertise in language and quantitative aptitude. His students are currently alumni of best B-schools of the world, like Wharton, Purdue, ISB, IIMs etc."

"Also 4 close friends have joined me in various roles" says Ankur.

Unlimited knowledge group parent company of Connect2MBA plans to provides value to every stakeholder involved directly or indirectly in education sector. The young team is already planning many more meaningful initiatives.

The umpteen failures, that are a part and parcel of life as an entrepreneur, did discourage Jain at times, but what kept him going was his dream to achieve and excel what Larry Page and Sergey Brin achieved through Google. “They have been my role models ever since I was a child. When in face of adversity, I think of them. It only makes me more resolute in my endeavour,” Jain said.   

Tips for budding entrepreneurs — Fight against all odds. It will bring out the leader in you.

Update: Connect2MBA has partnered with IIT K and IMT G Management festivals.