PhysicsWallah co‑founders become billionaires ahead of company's IPO
What's the story
Alakh Pandey and Prateek Boob, the founders of edtech start-up PhysicsWallah, have entered the billionaire club. The development follows the company's announcement of its initial public offering (IPO) price band at ₹103-109 per share. At the upper end of this range, PhysicsWallah is valued at ₹31,170 crore. Pandey and Boob each own 105.12 crore shares in the company, giving them a 40.31% stake each in it.
Valuation details
Pandey and Boob are now worth nearly $1.3B
At the upper end of the IPO price band, Pandey and Boob's stakes in PhysicsWallah are worth ₹11,458 crore each. This is equivalent to nearly $1.29 billion per founder. Notably, their acquisition cost for these shares is negligible as per the draft red herring prospectus (DRHP). In March 2025, PhysicsWallah had issued a 35:1 bonus share allotment to its shareholders.
Career trajectory
Background of the founders
Despite not having a formal higher education degree, Pandey has several years of experience in the edtech space. He completed his higher secondary education from Bishop Johnson Education School and College, Prayagraj. As CEO and whole-time director of PhysicsWallah, he is known for his unconventional journey in the industry. Boob, who joined PhysicsWallah on July 1, 2020 as a whole-time director leading strategy and innovation initiatives, has over a decade of experience in edtech.
Market response
IPO details
The Noida-based online education platform plans to raise ₹3,100 crore through a fresh issue and ₹380 crore through an offer for sale. The IPO will open for subscription on November 11 and close on November 13, with the anchor book opening on November 10. Among institutional investors are WestBridge AIF with 16.8 crore shares (6.4% stake), Hornbill Capital Partners with 11.52 crore shares (4.41% stake), and Lightspeed Opportunity Fund holding 4.66 crore shares worth ₹509 crore.