Cialfo places students in UK-US
A Singapore-based education technology start-up (edtech), Cialfo, is in discussions with Delhi schools to place students in undergraduate courses in the United States and United Kingdom universities.
The discussions are a big part of Cialfo’s programme to work with consultants across tertiary institutions and universities in India to help students secure places in US and UK universities.
Cialfo, co-founded by Kolkata-born Rohan Pasari and Singaporean Stanley Chia, has placed more than 90 per cent of its students in the top 50 US and top 30 UK universities in recent years.
“We see more than 50 per cent increase in Indian students seeking places in the US and UK universities over the next five years,” said Pasari in a conservative estimate.
Indian students accounted for 4.3 per cent or 21,000 of the 493,570 international students in UK in 2013-14, according to The British Council.
There were 132,888 Indian students out of the 627,306 Asian students in US in 2014-15, according to the Institute of International Education.
Backed by a growing disposable income along with the projected strong economic growth in India, Pasari noted Indian students’ strong interests in acquiring international education and experiences for placing themselves in the top range of professionals, both in India and globally.
Cialfo is streamlining the U.S. and U.K. university application process with a unique combination of an online platform, iOS and Android mobile apps and a Facebook Bot.
Founded in 2012, the edtech company is expanding its Asian footprint through software-as-a-service (SaaS) platform offering to education institutions and private college counsellors. “India, China and South East Asia remains our top markets,” he said.
“Cialfo has seen remarkable growth the last four years. We are now set to accelerate through strategic partnerships in our major markets.
“We are now working with some of the leading private college counsellors and high schools across India, Singapore, China and Vietnam. We will reach more students, tapping into the multi-billion dollar a year opportunity of helping Asian students find their ideal university,” said Pasari.
Cialfo has recently raised a Pre-Series A round, supported by Koh Boon Hwee, former chairman of Singtel, DBS Bank and Singapore Airlines, as well as non-Resident Indian investor, Anand Govindaluri, of Govin Capital. It also has angel investors looking to support the educational programmes across Asia.
The market of global students enrolling into US and UK universities is about US$80 billion, according to various estimates. Its growth potential is high with increasing number of Asian students seeking admission into the world’s best universities. fii-news.com
