ExpertsHub Bridges the Gap Between Academia and Industry with Practical Skill Development
India produces over 1.5 million engineering graduates annually, yet a significant percentage remain unemployable due to a critical lack of practical skills. Kirubakaran Reddy, the Founder of ExpertsHub, recognized this disconnect while he was still a student himself. By bridging the gap between theoretical academic curriculums and real-world industrial requirements, ExpertsHub has transformed the lives of over 100,000 students. This is the story of how a college startup evolved into a premier Industrial Skill Development Center, championing the philosophy of "Learn by Doing."
Kirubakaran's journey into entrepreneurship began not in a boardroom, but in his first year of engineering college. Disappointed by the quality of workshops available to students—where hundreds were crammed into halls with little value delivered—he decided to take matters into his own hands. Starting with a single workshop organized for his peers, he has since built an educational ecosystem that rivals global standards, all while bootstrapping from scratch.
The 'Learn by Doing' Philosophy
At the core of ExpertsHub is a simple but powerful belief: you cannot learn engineering just by reading about it. "I firmly believe in the philosophy called 'learn by doing'," says Kirubakaran. "It is all about executing, learning, iterating, and failing fast. We bring industry experts—true subject matter authorities—to train students, ensuring they gain experiential knowledge that textbooks simply cannot provide."
The Problem: The Industry-Academia Disconnect
The genesis of ExpertsHub lay in a personal frustration. As an eager first-year student, Kirubakaran attended a workshop hoping to gain practical skills, only to find it was a low-quality session with 900 students packed in a hall and no real industry connection. He realized that while colleges provided the degree, they often lacked the mechanism to impart current industrial skills.
"There is a gap between what the industry needs and what academia is providing," Kirubakaran explains. "Companies hire engineers to solve problems. If a student doesn't have the skill to solve a customer's problem, the degree alone isn't enough. I saw that students were willing to learn and even pay for quality, but the market was failing to deliver high-quality, expert-led training."
The Solution: Expert-Led, Experiential Learning
ExpertsHub differentiates itself by its strict adherence to quality. Unlike the workshops of the past that relied on general trainers, ExpertsHub insists on Subject Matter Experts (SMEs)—professionals currently working in the industry—to deliver training. This ensures that students are learning the latest technologies and methodologies directly from the source.
The ExpertsHub Growth Trajectory
- The Pilot: Started in college by organizing a single workshop, collaborating with an existing company to understand the logistics.
- The Brand: Built a website and brand identity around "Experts" and "Hub"—a center point for industrial excellence.
- The Scale-Up: grew from training 100 students in the first workshop to over 10,000 students annually, eventually crossing the 1 lakh milestone.
- The Expansion: Moving beyond just workshops to comprehensive skill development programs for engineering and MBA graduates across India.
Scaling the Vision: From 100 to 1 Lakh
Building a company while studying automobile engineering came with its own set of challenges. Kirubakaran faced skepticism due to his age—clients and partners often wondered how a student could lead an industrial training organization. His strategy was simple: let the quality speak. He often closed deals over calls before meeting in person, allowing his competence to precede his age.
Today, ExpertsHub has trained over 100,000 students and generated significant revenue without raising external venture capital. Kirubakaran attributes this to a relentless focus on the basics of business: having a paying customer and a sustainable model.
Impact by the Numbers
- 100,000+ Students trained across India.
- 15-20 Crore Estimated cumulative turnover since inception (bootstrapped).
- 10+ Years of operational excellence in the EdTech and Skill Development space.
- Pan-India presence serving engineering and MBA graduates.
Advice for Young Entrepreneurs
Kirubakaran is a strong advocate for "Mass Entrepreneurship" in India. He believes the country needs a grassroots movement where students view entrepreneurship not as a risky gamble, but as a structured career path. For those looking to start, he offers a three-point checklist.
The Startup Checklist
Kirubakaran suggests every aspiring entrepreneur ask three questions:
1. Do you have a paying customer? Validate that someone is willing to pay for your solution.
2. Is the model sustainable? Can you deliver the product/service and still make a profit?
3. Do you have a growth plan? How do you go from 10 customers to 100, and then to 1,000? Think 10-15 years ahead, not just short term.
The Future: A Global Vision
Looking ahead, ExpertsHub aims to scale its impact five-fold, targeting 500,000 students in the next three years. With the EdTech sector booming post-pandemic, Kirubakaran sees an opportunity to take Indian technical expertise to a global stage. By continuously evolving their curriculum and incorporating modern tools like the Business Model Canvas into engineering training, ExpertsHub is not just creating employees; it is nurturing the next generation of problem solvers and entrepreneurs.
"If you can build something better, faster, and cheaper than your competitor, you will always have a market share," Kirubakaran asserts. "Great things take time to build. We are here for the long run."
About the Guest
Kirubakaran Reddy is the Founder and Director of ExpertsHub Industry Skill Development Center. A graduate of Anna University, he started his entrepreneurial journey during his first year of engineering in 2012. Over the last decade, he has built ExpertsHub into a leading name in the skill development sector, bridging the gap between academic output and industry requirements. He is passionate about mentoring young entrepreneurs and fostering a culture of "learning by doing" across India's educational landscape.
ExpertsHub is an Industrial Skill Development Center that provides high-quality, expert-led technical and management training to engineering and MBA students. Through workshops, internships, and comprehensive courses, ExpertsHub empowers graduates with the practical skills needed to thrive in the modern workforce.