Tasnimul Hasan Ruhi

EduHive is one of the fastest-growing e-learning platforms in Bangladesh, igniting a spark of education in the minds of 40 million students. Its mission is to make quality education accessible and affordable for the students of Bangladesh. In just 3 years, they have reached more than 300,000 students with 20,000 monthly active users. The EduHive team is dedicated to empowering students, helping them reach their potential, and giving them the education they deserve. Team MBR was in a conversation with Md. Nazmul Haque Sarker, Co-Founder and CEO, EduHive, to learn about his inspirations and vision behind EduHive.

Tasnimul Hasan Ruhi: EduHive has been around for more than four years and has more than three hundred thousand active students. What was your motivation behind starting this successful venture?

Md. Nazmul Haque Sarker: As the son of a teacher, I inherited a deep-seated passion for teaching. My journey began as I studied at the University of Dhaka and took on the role of a teacher at various coaching centres. It was there that I encountered the struggles of students who, like me, had left their homes and families to chase their dreams in the city. I saw firsthand the indecision, the difficulties of adapting to a new environment, the endless traffic, the insecurity that many female students felt, and the constant financial struggles. These challenges broke my heart, and I watched as many bright and ambitious students lost hope and abandoned their dreams. My co-founders and I understand these struggles all too well, and we have come together to make a change. Through the digitisation of education, we can ensure that all students in Bangladesh have access to quality education, regardless of their background and financial constraints. Together, we can empower students to reach for the stars and build a brighter future for themselves and their country.

Tasnimul Hasan Ruhi: Would you please share with us a brief overview of your business and its various operations?

Md. Nazmul Haque Sarker: EduHive is an online education platform that provides students with access to a wide range of educational resources, including e-books, smart notes, PDF notes, recorded classes, and live classes. We offer a cost-effective subscription model, with options for monthly or yearly access to different levels of content. With the Basic package, students can prepare for exams with basic exam prep materials, while the Advanced package provides a comprehensive study solution with access to model tests from multiple teachers and institutions. The platform allows students to take exams online and receive their results instantly, as well as track their progress as they work towards their goals. EduHive is a game-changer for students, providing an accessible, affordable, and efficient way to excel in their studies.

Tasnimul Hasan Ruhi: Several EdTech platforms have already proven their worth as a result of rapid digitalisation and a shift in focus to online trends. In what aspects would you differentiate yourself from them?

Md. Nazmul Haque Sarker: At EduHive, we understand the importance of providing not just the right resources but resources of the highest quality. That is why we pride ourselves on the comprehensive content we offer, covering every aspect of the syllabus to give students the guidance they need to succeed. We do not just stop there. We empower our students to take charge of their own learning and to use technology to do it. Our blended learning approach blends traditional teaching methods with technology to create a personalised, engaging, and effective learning experience. We know that this is not just about the students. It is also about creating positive change in communities. That is why we have carefully planned and strategised our approach, working with top-notch coaching centres to create physical touchpoints and revolutionise teaching and learning practices. At EduHive, we believe that with the right tools, guidance, and support, every student has the potential to reach their dreams.

Tasnimul Hasan Ruhi: We know the pandemic has created a surge in online education platforms, with people being under lockdown. How would you say the response of the students has been as we are back to a relatively normal life?

Md. Nazmul Haque Sarker: EduHive’s operation started even before the pandemic, which has helped us adapt to the changing needs of parents and students. Our platform is designed to provide quality learning from home, and we strive to ensure continuity and growth in study hours. With a daily watchtime of over 40,000 minutes, it is evident that our students are highly engaged and motivated to learn through our platform. As the world navigates the challenges of the pandemic, more and more families are adopting online platforms as an alternative solution for their learning journey. At EduHive, we understand that every student is unique and may have their own set of challenges when it comes to online learning. That is why we provide regular check-ins, support, interactive multimedia content, and flexible scheduling options to ensure the success of all our students in their online learning journey.

Tasnimul Hasan Ruhi: EduHive has received the “Excellence” in E-Learning Award at the National Youth Career Carnival 2021. Would you share your opinion on the events that led you to receive such a prestigious award?

Md. Nazmul Haque Sarker: Winning the award for “Excellence” in E-Learning on a national platform is a truly humbling experience for the EduHive team. It is a recognition of the hard work, dedication, and passion that we put into providing students with the best education and resources possible. During the pandemic, our platform served nearly 1 lakh students. Besides that, we made all our services free for all during the first phase of the COVID-19 outbreak so that students could continue their learning during those uncertain times. We quickly adapted to online live classes and enabled test prep for university admissions tests. Our efforts also contributed to developing video classes to broadcast on Bangladesh TV for Class 6–10 (both general and madrasa education), vocational, and diploma engineering courses under the Ministry of Education. The award is a culmination of our tireless efforts in creating a platform that truly transforms lives and empowers students to thrive.

Tasnimul Hasan Ruhi: You are currently working with over a hundred coaching centres, such as OMECA, ICON, UCC, and many others. What are the unique aspects of these partnerships?

Md. Nazmul Haque Sarker: With 16 years of experience in collaborating with coaching centres, I have had the opportunity to observe the struggles of students, particularly those who hail from outside of Dhaka, as they navigate the challenges of time, cost, and barriers in selecting and attending coaching centres. As a result, I have made it a personal mission to bring offline exams online, providing students with a unique and unparalleled experience. One of our unique selling points is our test prep, which allows students to self-assess and evaluate their performance in a proper manner, providing them with instantaneous results and enabling them to gauge their progress and make necessary adjustments to their approach. My extensive tenure as an educator/teacher has facilitated the formation of personal relationships with the owners and directors of these coaching centres, which has proven instrumental in convincing them of the value of this blended approach and how it can benefit both their students and their businesses.

Tasnimul Hasan Ruhi: EduHive has already created more than five thousand videos to enlighten the users of the platforms. What plans do you have for the future of EduHive? 

Md. Nazmul Haque Sarker: Our plan is to gradually cover all other classes with the new curriculum, thus becoming a one-stop-learning solution. Additionally, we are doing research on how we can make our recorded classes more interactive and based on real-life examples. Utilising modern technologies such as VR and AR, we aim to enable students to learn through visualisation instead of just imagination, thus creating a more immersive learning experience. We strive to be a leader in the EdTech industry, making a real impact on the lives of students and shaping the future of education for the better. We remain steadfast in our dedication to providing personalised and tailored learning experiences, catering to the specific needs of each student, and providing them with the necessary support to achieve their goals. We also conduct thorough research to understand the feedback from our users and stakeholders to continually identify areas for improvement and ensure that our platform is meeting the needs of its users.

Tasnimul Hasan Ruhi: You have established EduHive as a prospective EdTech company. What are the challenges you faced while making this journey?

Md. Nazmul Haque Sarker: EduHive is a leading EdTech platform that has faced and surmounted many obstacles with its exceptional team and determination. We have succeeded in convincing traditional coaching centres to overcome their fear of losing the privacy of their contents and revenue streams and helped them switch to online mode by demonstrating the clear advantages to students and their businesses. Parents’ trust is of paramount importance, but we remain confident that our consistent, high-quality services will continue to earn and retain their trust. We are undeterred by the challenges of slow internet in rural areas, and we are confident that through collaboration with key stakeholders, including the government, we will find solutions that allow all students to access our video streaming on demand. Invest in EduHive and be part of shaping the future of education as we continue to break barriers and bring the best possible education to all students.