Born in 1991 in a struggling family in Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh, Alakh Pandey once feared mathematics and grew up in severe financial hardship. His father lost his job, and the family had to sell their house and scooter. But that same “average student” is today known across India as Physics Wallah, the founder of one of the fastest-growing edtech companies in the country.
In just nine years, Alakh has built a company valued at ₹30,000 crore, and his personal net worth has reached ₹14,510 crore—surpassing even Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan, whose net worth stands at ₹12,490 crore.
Physics Wallah’s IPO opened on November 11 and closed today after being subscribed 1.92 times in three days.
A photo from the launch of PW’s first Kota centre shows how far the company has come—today the firm stands among India’s biggest edtech success stories, valued at nearly ₹30,000 crore.
Key Highlights of the Physics Wallah IPO
- Price Band: ₹103–₹109 per share
- Fresh Issue: ₹3,100 crore
- Offer for Sale (OFS): ₹380 crore
- Promoter Selling: Alakh Pandey and Pratik Boob together offloading ₹190 crore via OFS
- Promoter Stake: 40.31% combined
- Lot Size: Minimum 137 shares (₹14,933 investment)
- Maximum Retail Lots: 13 lots (₹1,94,129 investment)
- Listing Date: November 18
The Inspiring Journey of Alakh Pandey: Chapter by Chapter
Chapter 1: Childhood in Poverty
Born in Prayagraj, Alakh’s early life was marked by financial crisis. His father lost his job, forcing the family to sell their home and move into a rented room. By Class 8, Alakh was teaching younger kids to support the family. He calls himself “average” in studies—with math being his biggest fear. A picture with his mother shows the emotional core of his story—he credits most of his success to her support.
Chapter 2: Dropping Out to Teach
Alakh joined college in Prayagraj but dropped out in his third year, saying he “lost interest in traditional education.”
He began teaching physics at local coaching centres, often travelling with friends due to lack of money.
In 2015, he launched a Facebook page—it failed.
Chapter 3: The First Rs 8,000 from YouTube
In 2016, he started a YouTube channel named Physics Wala, shooting and editing videos himself. After a year of consistent uploads, he earned his first ₹8,000 from YouTube. He quit his coaching job—without a plan B—to focus full-time on the channel. His unique, energetic teaching style made him a student favourite. In 2020, he launched the Physics Wallah app—35,000 users joined within days.
Behind him stood Pratik Maheshwari, an operations and startup expert who became a key force in building the PW empire.