Agastya International Foundation

What Agastya International Foundation does

Agastya International Foundation is a Bangalore-headquartered non-profit established in 1999 that delivers experiential science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics (STEAM) education to underserved children, government school teachers, and school dropouts across 23+ Indian states. Its operating model rests on three asset pillars: 190 Mobile STEM Labs and Lab-on-a-Bike units that travel to remote schools; 152 fixed STEM Centers co-located with communities; and a 172-acre Campus Creativity Lab near Bengaluru (Gudivanka, Andhra Pradesh) with 20+ specialized labs embedded in natural terrain. Programs are delivered free of cost, including the Mobile STEM Labs and Lab-on-a-Bike (hardware-equipped vehicles), STEM Centers (fixed exhibits), the Campus Creativity Lab (immersive campus), Operation Vasantha/Night Village Schools (13,387 dropouts re-engaged in 2024-25), Acharya Initiative teacher training (3,636 teachers since inception), and Young Instructor Leader peer-to-peer programs. Supporting digital infrastructure includes the wE-Learn mobile app, AHA! Konnect platform, Agastya Virtual School, Acti-Learn, and Digi-kshetra, providing a phygital extension of the experiential model.

The organization is funded through three streams: donations (tax-exempt under Section 80G of India's Income Tax Act), Corporate Social Responsibility partnerships (HDFC Bank, NetApp, Hyundai Motor India Foundation, Indian Oil Corporation, Larsen & Toubro, Gurukrupa Foundation), and collaborations with state governments (Karnataka, Uttar Pradesh, Delhi, Nagaland) and academic institutions (Patliputra University, Olin College). Cumulative reach is 31 million children and 300,000+ teachers trained, with 8 million children served annually. Under the Agastya 2.0 strategy launched in 2022, the foundation targets 100 million children and 1 million teachers by 2032. Governance is provided by a Board of Trustees chaired by founder Ramji Raghavan (former Wall Street professional) with executive leadership including co-founder Mahavir Kumar, Executive Vice-Chairman K Thiagarajan, and CTO Sastry Adiraju; Agastya USA was established 2019-2021 to diversify the funding base internationally.

Name

Agastya International Foundation

Legal name

Agastya International Foundation

Website

https://agastya.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1999

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1,001–5,000 employees

Short description

Agastya International Foundation is a Bangalore-based non-profit founded in 1999 that delivers free hands-on STEAM education to underserved children and government school teachers across 23+ Indian states through 190 mobile STEM labs, 152 fixed centers, and a 172-acre Campus Creativity Lab.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Education Services

NAICS

All Other Schools and Instruction (61169), Educational Support Services (611710)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

STEM, Digital Literacy & Maker Education Nonprofits (BPAGADAG)

akta.pro secondary industries

Science Camps & Field Programs (Nature, Space, Marine, Geology) (EDAMABAB), Online/Hybrid Lifelong Learning Platforms & Open Enrollment Programs (EDAAAEAL), Career Exploration & Industry Exposure (Guest Speakers, Company Visits) (EDAMAHAJ)

Keywords

• Experiential STEM education
• Mobile science labs
• Teacher training programs
• Rural education outreach
• Digital learning platforms

Headquarters

HQ city

Bangalore

HQ country

India

HQ region

Asia

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Donations and Philanthropy: Tax-exempt donations under Section 80G of Income Tax Act from individual philanthropists supporting educational programs.
2. CSR Funding Partnerships: Corporate Social Responsibility funding from companies like HDFC Bank, Hyundai Motor India Foundation, NetApp, Indian Oil Corporation, and others to implement STEM education programs.
3. Government Partnerships: Collaborations with state governments (Karnataka, Uttar Pradesh, Delhi, Nagaland) and educational institutions for program implementation.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels7 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Agastya International Foundation is a non-profit organization that delivers hands-on experiential science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics (STEAM) education to underserved children in rural and semi-urban India. The organization operates through 190 mobile science labs, 152 fixed STEM centers, a 172-acre Campus Creativity Lab, and digital learning platforms, reaching 8 million children annually across 23 states. Programs are provided free of cost to beneficiaries and funded through donations, CSR partnerships, and government collaborations.

Product overview

Agastya International Foundation operates a multi-platform experiential learning ecosystem comprising mobile science laboratories, fixed STEM centers, a 172-acre campus creativity lab, digital learning tools, and teacher/student development programs. The core offerings include Mobile STEM Labs and Lab-on-a-Bike that travel to underserved communities, the Campus Creativity Lab as an on-site immersive learning destination, STEM Centers as permanent learning spaces in schools, and Agastya Virtual School as a digital extension. Supporting products include wE-Learn app and AHA! KONNECT platform for self-paced and collaborative learning, Acti-Learn and Digi-kshetra for interactive and digital literacy education, and specialized programs like Operation Vasantha for school dropouts. Arts integration occurs through MediaArts Lab, Kala Kootami, and Dhwani, while the Teacher Transformation Program and Young Instructor Leader Program build capacity among educators and student leaders. The portfolio is unified by a philosophy of sparking curiosity (Aah!), nurturing creativity (Aha!), and building confidence (Ha-Ha!) through hands-on experiential learning.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• STEM+ Centers: Science, Technology, Engineering & Mathematics centers offering hands-on learning experiences for underserved children
• Mobile STEM Labs
• Campus Creativity Lab
• Young Instructor Leader (YIL)
• Operation Vasantha (Night Village School)
• Agastya Virtual School
• wE-Learn
• AHA! Konnect
• Data Explorers Lab
• Acti-Learn
• Digi-kshetra
• Anveshana
• Jignyasa
• Kala Kootami
• MediaArts Lab
• Dhwani
• Vidya Vahini

Products and services

• Mobile STEM Labs Traveling science laboratories housed in vans that bring hands-on STEM education to underserved children in remote villages and schools across 22 states in India, featuring experiments, innovation models, and AI-based learning components. Each lab is staffed by trained 'Ignators' (teachers) and 'Sarathi' (drivers).
• Campus Creativity Lab A 172-acre ecological campus near Bengaluru (Gudivanka, Andhra Pradesh) with 20+ specialized labs that teaches children science, innovation, arts and more through immersive, hands-on learning experiences in a natural setting. Hosts 600+ children daily and houses 600+ plant species, 152 bird species, 103 butterfly species.
• STEM Centers Fixed-location science centers with hands-on exhibits and learning materials that supplement school curricula, operating across 152 centers in India where children from nearby schools visit for hands-on learning experiences.
• Lab-on-a-Bike Compact mobile science laboratory delivered via bicycles to reach children in areas where vehicles cannot access, bringing hands-on experiments to remote communities.
• Operation Vasantha (Night Village School) Evening education program helping school dropouts and out-of-school children continue learning through hands-on STEM activities, creative learning, and community support. Operates through 369 OV Centers, reaching 13,387 children in 2024-25 to help them return to formal education.
• Teacher Transformation Program (Acharya Initiative) Professional development program that trains government school teachers in experiential and hands-on learning methodologies, having trained over 300,000 teachers cumulatively and reaching 3,636 teachers in 2024-25.
• Young Instructor Leader (YIL) Program Program that trains student leaders to become peer educators, enabling them to teach and inspire younger students while building their own confidence and knowledge.
• Agastya Virtual School Digital platform that brings real-life examples to the classroom, promoting frequent concept recall with thought-provoking questions and hands-on activities for remote learning.
• wE-Learn App Mobile application that makes digital learning accessible and engaging through gamification features, enabling self-learning for students across regions.
• AHA! KONNECT Online platform where children can showcase their creative and innovative projects, connect with peers and mentors for collaborative learning.
• Acti-Learn Interactive learning tool that combines physical activities with digital elements to create engaging educational experiences for students.
• Digi-kshetra Digital literacy and technology learning platform that brings computer-based education to underserved communities without regular access to technology.
• NetApp Data Explorers Lab AI and data literacy laboratory established in partnership with NetApp, serving over 1,200 students with project-based learning incorporating real-world community themes.
• MediaArts Lab Creative program where children learn photography, visual arts, and media creation skills to express themselves and document their learning journey.
• Dhwani Music education initiative that uses folk music and rhythm to teach concepts in science, mathematics, and language through an interdisciplinary approach.
• Kala Kootami Art program that integrates visual arts with science and nature learning, encouraging creative expression through various artistic mediums.
• Innovation Hub Design thinking and innovation space where children work on real-world problems, developing solutions through creative experimentation and prototyping.

Quantifiable outcome

• Measurable improvements in student engagement and social attitudes documented through randomized control trials
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature6 records

Partnerships

13 partnerships are on record, tiered major, core and minor.

• HDFC BankmajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 27 February 2026HDFC Bank Parivartan CSR programme partners with Agastya for STEM education initiatives including science centres, mobile labs, accessible STEM labs for speech and hearing-impaired students, and astronomy and space labs. Reached over 47,000 students across India through seven Indian states, aligning with national vision of Viksit Bharat 2047 and UN SDG 4.
• Patliputra UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 5 February 2026MoU signed to provide free internship opportunities to approximately 8,000 students pursuing degree-level studies under four-year choice-based credit system. Internships implemented in phases across undergraduate disciplines, aligned with National Education Policy 2020's emphasis on experiential learning and skill development.
• NetApp Inc.majorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 23 December 2025NetApp and Agastya inaugurated Data Explorers Lab in Andhra Pradesh aimed at enhancing data literacy and AI skills. Lab designed to serve over 1,200 students in 2025-26 with project-based learning incorporating real-world community themes. Hosted DataVerse Expo 2026 in Kuppam with 42 teams presenting projects linked to UN SDGs.
• Indian Oil Corporation Limited (IOCL)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMoU to establish 8 Experiential Learning Science Centres to support Maharishi Valmiki Residential Schools across Kodagu District, Karnataka. These schools primarily serve tribal children. Initiative brings experiential science learning to nearly 2,000 children annually.
• Hyundai Motor India FoundationmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerVidya Vahini Summer Camp conducted across 14 districts in Uttar Pradesh and Haryana from 22 May to 5 June 2026. More than 1,500 children participated in hands-on activities including low-cost model making, art and craft, painting, and creative learning experiences.
• Code.orgcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHour of AI awareness camp launched as part of summer camps. Through hands-on activities, children explored how AI learns, recognizes patterns, and supports areas like environment, education, and healthcare. 85 children participated across three summer camps in Gujarat.
• Gurukrupa FoundationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMobile Science Lab supported by Gurukrupa Foundation reaches schools across Thiruvallur, Chennai. Over past year, program reached over 2,000 children through simple, interactive experiments making concepts easier to understand.
• SVYM (Swami Vivekananda Youth Movement)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCSR-funded collaboration with SVYM as part of Department of School Education and Literacy's efforts to address non-functional ICT labs in Karnataka government schools.
• Government of KarnatakacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerState government partnership beginning 2007 for expansion of programs in Karnataka. Collaborates on addressing ICT lab deficits in government schools.
• Government of Uttar PradeshcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerVidya Vahini Summer Camp partnership across 14 districts in Uttar Pradesh with support from Hyundai Motor India Foundation.
• Government of DelhiminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGovernment partnership for educational programs in Delhi schools.
• Government of NagalandminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerState government partnership for educational initiatives in Nagaland.
• Olin College of EngineeringminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic partnership for knowledge sharing and educational program development.

Scale indicators15 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Pratham Education Foundation: One of India's largest education nonprofits, focused on improving literacy and learning outcomes among underserved children through low-cost programs in government schools — directly comparable to Agastya's model of working with rural/underserved children via partnerships with state education departments.
• Smile Foundation: Indian nonprofit delivering education, healthcare, and livelihood programs to underprivileged children and families, with CSR-funded education initiatives comparable to Agastya's CSR partnership model and focus on rural government school beneficiaries.
• Central Square Foundation: Indian education foundation focused on improving learning outcomes at scale, supporting ed-tech and school-system reform — comparable as a peer Indian education nonprofit pursuing measurable outcomes in government school systems.
• Bharti Foundation: Indian corporate foundation operating Satya Bharti Schools and rural education programs funded by Bharti Enterprises — comparable as a major CSR-backed Indian education nonprofit serving rural and underserved children.
• Quest Alliance: India-based nonprofit focused on 21st-century skills, STEM, and workforce readiness for underserved youth through partnerships with government schools and CSR funders — directly comparable in focus area and delivery model.
• Nirmaan Organization: Indian nonprofit providing education, skill development, and livelihood programs for underserved youth, partnering with corporations and governments — comparable peer in the Indian nonprofit education and CSR-funded delivery space.

Broad incumbents

• Room to Read: Global nonprofit operating literacy and STEAM education programs across multiple developing countries — comparable as a larger, established international peer serving underserved children through systemic school interventions.

Emerging players

• Khan Academy: Free digital learning platform for global underserved learners with translated, gamified content — comparable as a peer delivering self-paced STEM learning to children in resource-constrained settings, though operating a pure digital model versus Agastya's phygital approach.
• i-Saksham Education and Learning Foundation: Indian nonprofit training youth leaders to deliver education in their own underserved communities — comparable to Agastya's Young Instructor Leader program model of community-embedded peer-to-peer learning.

Others

• Digital Green: India-based nonprofit leveraging video and digital tools to empower rural communities — adjacent peer sharing a mobile/digital delivery approach and Indian rural geography, although focused on agriculture rather than STEM education.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/AgastyaSparks
• YouTubeyoutube.com/c/AgastyaOrg
• Facebookfacebook.com/AgastyaOrg
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/agastyaorg
• Instagraminstagram.com/agastyaorg

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds2 records

Investors2 records

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Agastya International Foundation