NOTE FROM THE FOUNDER – Amit Goel
I was born in a modest town in India, Neamatpur, into a typical lower-middle-class Marwari family. My entire family, including extended relatives, are engaged in various businesses.
My ‘bauji’ (father), now nearly 80 years old, had to forgo formal education early and joined ‘daadaji’ (grandfather) in our small ‘dukan’ (shop). He studied only up to the 9th grade. Despite his limited schooling, my father’s unwavering determination ensured I received the best education possible. He secured my admission into the premier English-medium school (St. Pat’s) in the district, despite the financial constraints at that time.
From Grade 1, I commuted to school on crowded public buses to economise. It was the most affordable mode of transport, and I also walked over a kilometre to school. All my classmates used the reserved private school buses. Nevertheless, I appreciated the independence afforded by not being bound to their fixed schedules.
I ranked first in the Class 10 examinations within my community. (Seema, my wife, was a close second 😊). [Years later, my daughter achieved the All India 5th Rank in the ICSE 2022 examinations.]
Continuing my journey, after Class 10, I resolutely relocated to Kolkata for further studies. Ma (mom) understandably cautioned me about managing alone at such a young age, but to no avail. I had never left my small town before. I was the sole student from my town to gain admission to St. Xavier’s College and Poddar Chhatra Niwas (hostel), both among the nation’s most prestigious institutions.
The foundations of independence and frugality were instilled early. During my undergraduate years, I was financially self-reliant, never requesting money from my parents, sustaining myself through stipends and part-time employment, and saving diligently (washing my clothes, utilising the cheapest travel options, abstaining from parties, etc.). I was fortunate to secure internships with global firms such as E&Y and HLL, which offered respectable stipends (Rs 1,000 per month in those days). I believed there would be ample time to enjoy life later.
My days commenced with college at 6 a.m., immediately followed by office work, while simultaneously studying for three courses- B.Com, CA, and CS. Attendance requirements were stringent in both college and the office.
After obtaining three professional qualifications (May 2003), CS (June 2003), and FRM (USA, 2008)-I served with esteemed global corporations (Tata Steel, HLL, E&Y, Citi, and HSBC) in India and Hong Kong for nearly two decades.
Throughout my corporate tenure, I actively pursued continuous learning and diverse professional experiences, privileged to work across the entire business lifecycle: operations, national product development, regional relationship management, and global sales with some of the world’s largest investment banks. I am profoundly grateful to many mentors and colleagues. My principal roles included Branch Trade Officer in Charge at Citi India Corporate Banking, Head of Settlement Operations at Citi India Securities Services, Head of Product Development at HSBC India Securities Services, Regional Relationship Manager, and Global Business Development Manager in Hong Kong. In my final role, I earned a substantial eight-figure salary.
I attribute my success not to any singular reference but to an intrinsic desire and conviction that life is fundamentally about learning and experiences. Lacking familial mentors for academic or career guidance, my journey was one of self-directed learning.
We harboured a profound aspiration to create something novel that could significantly benefit a broad audience-something empowering, simplifying lives, alleviating stress, and contributing to a better world.
After decades in large corporations, we envisioned establishing a company with a client-centric culture devoid of politics, where merit is rewarded, employee development is prioritised, and everyone embraces ownership of our customers and students. We aspired to cultivate a workplace where team members are regarded as ‘owners’ and responsible adults.
Both Seema and I share a deep affection for children and are passionate about providing them access to superior education and nurturing essential skills to enable their success. As parents to two daughters, and having lived in small towns, metropolitan India, and Hong Kong, we possess firsthand insight into the challenges faced by parents, learners, and educators across diverse strata. Unfortunately, traditional schooling or unorganised tutoring often neglects skill development, inspiring a love for learning, and few institutions adequately address it. Personalised attention from inspiring and dedicated teachers is indispensable yet scarce. Moreover, parents frequently struggle to find engaging, qualified teachers.
In 2020, we launched our impact-driven venture, Classbuk.com. Through Classbuk, we are effecting a positive transformation in the lives of educators and learners. Classbuk enhances children’s proficiency and facilitates skill acquisition through exceptional teachers across a broad spectrum of subjects. We empower educators to disseminate knowledge to learners across India and internationally, maximising their success via the internet and technology. Our focus is on learners aged 3 to 18-the formative years critical to their future. Classbuk alleviates the burden on parents of vetting numerous teachers before enrolling their children in live online classes.
Beyond professional pursuits, I have embraced other challenges and triumphed-from a person with limited stamina to completing multiple half marathons and a 100 km trail walk, self-taught swimming, and rigorous 10-day Vipassana meditation retreats.
If life is defined by experiences, Classbuk is expanding my horizons. The decision was far from easy. My wife, Seema, and my father provided unwavering support and encouragement to pursue my passion and vision. Seema is my ideal soulmate and steadfast anchor. She proudly teaches children across multiple countries. I am the proud father of two daughters: Shagun (1st year MBBS as of April 2025) and Akshara (Grade 10 as of April 2025). Shagun secured AIR 5 (ICSE 2022), AIR 3 (ISC 2024), NEET 99.9 percentile, MHCET 99.7 percentile, and is enrolled in one of the nation’s top medical colleges. Read LinkedIn post
Classbuk serves children from multiple countries and enables hundreds of women educators to earn. We are a profitable, bootstrapped enterprise with 5-star Google ratings and an industry-leading 96% renewal rate. Read my LinkedIn post
I am elated to announce that Classbuk was honoured with the Digital Transformation Champion Award 2025. This accolade celebrates innovators who seamlessly integrate business excellence with social impact. Over the past four-plus years, Classbuk has empowered women educators by facilitating a 150-fold increase in payouts, connecting them with students across 15+ countries. We received the award from Ms. Shyamala Gopinath, Former Deputy Governor of the Reserve Bank of India, and Ms. Girija Subramanian, CMD, New India Assurance Company 🎥 Watch the Award Moment
We take immense pride in this collective achievement and extend heartfelt gratitude to our remarkable Classbuk parents for their trust and support throughout our journey.
Bauji remains my mentor, and I regularly seek his guidance and inspiration.
Classbuk aspires to contribute to the vision of making India the knowledge capital of the world. We derive profound satisfaction and a strong sense of responsibility from being a platform that enables talented women to earn supplementary income from home with full flexibility, while imparting lifelong skills to young learners at an early stage.
Classbuk’s success depends on your support. We kindly request you to assist us by referring outstanding teachers, engaging with us for your online learning needs, or simply spreading awareness about Classbuk within your digital and offline networks. Every contribution is invaluable. We welcome any feedback or suggestions.
Thank you immensely!
Amit Goel
Founder, Classbuk.com
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