EdTech Startup Launch: LearnFast Reached 10,000 Users in 90 Days
How LearnFast, a competitive exam prep app, launched in 45 days using white-label content and achieved 10,000 users with 15% premium conversion in first quarter.
About LearnFast
Company: LearnFast EdTech Pvt Ltd
Location: Pune, Maharashtra
Founded: January 2024
Platform: Mobile app for competitive exam preparation
Founders: Priya Mehta (Ex-Product Manager, EdTech) and Karthik Iyer (Software Engineer)
LearnFast was founded with a vision to make quality competitive exam preparation accessible and affordable through a mobile-first approach.
The Challenge: Quick Market Entry
Competitive EdTech Landscape
The founders faced intense competition:
- 50+ competitive exam prep apps already in market
- Giants like Unacademy and BYJU's dominating
- Students having many options
- Need to differentiate quickly
The Content Dilemma
Original Plan:
- Build in-house content team (5 people)
- 6-month content development timeline
- Total budget: ₹25 lakhs for content
- Expected launch: July 2024
Problem: By July 2024, market window might close. Competitors launching new features constantly.
Limited Initial Capital
Seed Funding: ₹40 lakhs total
- Technology development: ₹15 lakhs
- Content (planned): ₹25 lakhs (62.5% of budget!)
- Marketing: ₹5 lakhs
- Operations: ₹5 lakhs
Content was consuming majority of limited capital.
Time-to-Market Pressure
Investors expected:
- Launch by March 2024 (2 months from funding)
- 5,000 users in first 3 months
- Proof of concept for next funding round
Creating content from scratch made this impossible.
The Solution: White-Label Content Strategy
Decision Process
After analyzing options, founders decided:
- Focus on technology (core competency)
- Outsource content (not core competency)
- Use white-label to accelerate launch
- Invest saved money in marketing and tech
What They Chose
White-Label Package:
- SSC (CGL, CHSL, CPO) - Complete library
- Banking (SBI, IBPS) - Prelims + Mains
- Railways (NTPC, Group D)
- 5000+ practice questions
- 60 full-length mock tests
- Daily current affairs (automated feed)
- Video solutions (1000+ videos)
Cost: ₹6 lakhs annual subscription
Savings: ₹19 lakhs vs in-house plan (76% savings)
API Integration
Technical Setup:
- REST API integration with their app
- Real-time content delivery
- Progress tracking built-in
- Analytics endpoints for insights
- Completed in 2 weeks
Implementation Timeline
Week 1-2: API Integration
- Backend integration completed
- Content testing and QA
- User interface design for content display
Week 3-4: Beta Testing
- Internal testing with 50 beta users
- Bug fixes and improvements
- UI/UX refinements
Week 5-6: Marketing Preparation
- App store optimization
- Landing page creation
- Social media campaigns planned
- Influencer partnerships
Week 7: Launch (March 1, 2024)
- Android app launched on Play Store
- iOS app launched on App Store
- Initial pricing: Free basic, ₹999/year premium
The Results: Explosive Growth
User Acquisition (First 90 Days)
Month 1 (March 2024):
- Day 1-7: 500 downloads (organic + paid ads)
- Day 8-15: 1,200 downloads (word of mouth starting)
- Day 16-30: 2,800 downloads
- Month End: 2,500 active users
Month 2 (April 2024):
- Social media viral moment (study tip video)
- Influencer partnerships kicked in
- App store featuring (good ratings)
- Month End: 6,000 active users
Month 3 (May 2024):
- Referral program launched (get 1 month free)
- Google ads campaign
- Student community building
- Month End: 10,200 active users
Total Growth: 0 to 10,000+ in 90 days
Revenue Performance
Premium Conversion:
- Free users: 8,670 (85%)
- Premium users: 1,530 (15%)
- Conversion rate: 15% (industry avg: 5-8%)
Revenue (First Quarter):
- Premium subscriptions: ₹15,30,000
- Total users: 10,200
- Average revenue per user: ₹150
- Monthly recurring revenue: ₹5,10,000
App Store Performance
Ratings:
- Google Play Store: 4.6 stars (1,200+ reviews)
- Apple App Store: 4.5 stars (180+ reviews)
- Average rating: 4.5+ stars
Why High Ratings:
- Quality content (white-label professional material)
- Smooth user experience
- Regular updates
- Responsive support
Content Engagement Metrics
Daily Active Users (DAU): 4,500 (44% of total)
Average Session Time: 38 minutes
Questions Attempted Per User: 85/month
Mock Tests Taken: 12,000+ in 90 days
Video Watch Time: 15,000+ hours
High engagement due to quality content and good UX.
Key Success Factors
1. Speed to Market
Impact:
- Launched in 45 days instead of 6 months
- Captured early adopter market
- Got ahead of 3 competitors who launched later
- Built user base before competition intensified
2. Quality Content from Day One
Advantage:
- No "beta content" quality issues
- Professional, exam-aligned materials
- Immediate credibility with users
- Strong word-of-mouth from quality
3. Cost Optimization
Smart Budget Allocation:
| Category | Planned | Actual | Savings |
|----------|---------|--------|---------|
| Content | ₹25L | ₹6L | ₹19L |
| Technology | ₹15L | ₹18L | -₹3L |
| Marketing | ₹5L | ₹16L | -₹11L |
Saved ₹19L on content, invested in tech + marketing.
Result: Better product, more users
4. Focus on Technology
Unique Features Developed:
- AI-powered weak area identification
- Personalized study plans
- Smart question recommendations
- Performance analytics dashboard
- Gamification elements
These features differentiated them from competitors.
5. Community Building
Engagement Strategy:
- WhatsApp study groups (2,000+ members)
- Weekly live doubt sessions
- Success story features
- Student leaderboards
- Monthly top performers rewards
Built loyal user community quickly.
Founder's Perspective
Priya Mehta, Co-Founder & CEO:
"When we started LearnFast, we had a choice: spend 6 months building content or 6 months building technology. As tech people, we knew our strength wasn't content creation.
White-label content was a game-changer. For ₹6 lakhs, we got professional content that would have cost us ₹25 lakhs and 6 months. More importantly, we could focus on what we're good at – building great technology and user experience.
The ₹19 lakhs we saved went into marketing and feature development. That's why we could launch in 45 days and reach 10,000 users in 90 days. Without white-label, we'd still be creating content today instead of serving users.
For EdTech startups, my advice: Don't compete on content if it's not your core competency. Partner with experts, focus on your strength."
User Testimonial
Rahul Verma, Premium User:
"I've tried 5-6 exam prep apps. LearnFast stands out because of their content quality and app smoothness. The study materials are comprehensive, mock tests are exam-pattern accurate, and the analytics help me track weak areas. Worth every rupee of the premium subscription."
Investment and Funding Impact
Seed Fund Utilization
Original Plan vs Actual:
- Content: 62.5% → 15% (huge savings)
- Technology: 37.5% → 45% (better product)
- Marketing: 12.5% → 40% (more users)
Series A Funding
Impact of White-Label Decision:
- Achieved 10,000 users (target was 5,000)
- 15% premium conversion (excellent)
- ₹5L+ MRR in 3 months
- Strong unit economics
Result: Secured ₹2 crore Series A funding (September 2024) based on traction.
Investor Comment: "The team's focus on technology while leveraging white-label content showed smart resource allocation. They achieved market fit faster than expected."
Current Status (October 2024)
LearnFast Today:
- 35,000+ registered users
- 8,000+ premium subscribers
- ₹22 lakhs monthly recurring revenue
- 4.6 average app rating
- Team of 12 people
- Pan-India presence
Expansion:
- Added NEET content (white-label)
- Launched JEE preparation
- Introduced video courses
- Built teacher community
Lessons for EdTech Startups
1. Focus on Core Competency
If you're tech-first startup:
- Build amazing technology
- Create great user experience
- Leverage partners for content
- Don't spread yourself thin
2. Speed Matters in EdTech
Market moves fast:
- Launch quickly to test hypothesis
- Iterate based on feedback
- Don't wait for perfection
- First-mover advantage is real
3. Content Quality is Non-Negotiable
Students pay for quality:
- Professional content builds trust
- Good content drives word-of-mouth
- Quality improves retention
- White-label ensures standards
4. Smart Budget Allocation Wins
Every rupee counts for startups:
- Save on non-core activities
- Invest in differentiation
- Marketing needs proper budget
- Content investment is operational, not strategic
Conclusion
LearnFast's success story demonstrates:
- White-label enables rapid launch (45 days)
- Quality content drives user growth (10,000 in 90 days)
- Cost savings enable better product (₹19L saved)
- Focus on core strength wins (technology + UX)
- Smart startups leverage partnerships
For EdTech startups, the message is clear: Build what you're best at, partner for the rest.
Ready to launch your EdTech platform? Explore white-label content solutions that power successful startups like LearnFast.
