Chitra Kanagaraj Paving the Way for Safer Schools
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s the world navigates through unprecedented times, education has been a sector that has been affected profoundly. Safety concerns are at an all-time high, and educational institutions are grappling with solutions to ensure the safety of their students. While many have struggled to find answers, Chitra Kanagaraj, the co-founder of Pikmykid, has been an instrumental force in revolutionizing school safety. From Humble Beginnings to Edtech Thought Leader Hailing from a humble background in India, Chitra’s journey to becoming the first female graduate and engineer in her family is a testament to the power of education to overcome poverty. With more than a decade of experience in the software services industry, Chitra was well versed in creating and implementing software products at scale. However, the challenge of investing her life savings to start her own business was a daunting one. The idea for Pikmykid came about when Chitra’s partner Pat Bhava, was waiting in a long carline to pick up his child from school. Pickup traffic was choking the neighbourhood traffic for hours every day, with students running around unaccounted for, loudspeakers blaring names and children getting into cars with the wrong families. This issue evolved into Chitra’s MBA cost-benefit analysis case study. As she delved deeper into the subject, she realized that the growing safety concerns in K12 schools presented an opportunity to proactively address and create a safer world for the next generation. The idea of developing a tool that could keep a check on schools became the core focus for Chitra in the coming years. June 2023 | GlobalBiz Outlook
Weathering the Storms For Chitra & her partner, the hurdles were numerous and varied. One of the biggest obstacles they faced was convincing schools that their product was a necessary solution to a very real safety concern. Despite the fact that every school has had to deal with missing students or traffic accidents, many were hesitant to acknowledge the problem and the need for a solution. Funding was also a significant challenge in the early stages of the company. With limited resources, the team had to balance their desire to build a quality product with the need to get it to market quickly. Securing funding from angel investors was a turning point for the company, providing not only the necessary financial resources but also a much-needed vote of confidence. Another challenge that many startups face is building the right team. Chitra mentions that in the early stages, it’s often difficult to attract experienced professionals who are willing to take a risk on an unproven idea. Instead, the team may be comprised of individuals who are passionate and willing to learn along with the founders. For her, the most influential moment in her journey was securing that first angel investment. It was a powerful validation of their idea and a reminder that with hard work and determination, anything is possible. Chitra & her team remained committed to their vision and were ultimately successful in bringing her product to market.
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