KAPSSN: Sivasis Garabadu on Building a One-Stop Digital Hub for Educational Institutions

Guest: Sivasis Garabadu Date: January 15, 2026 Read Time: 8 mins

Procurement in the education sector has traditionally been a fragmented and time-consuming task for principals and school chairmen. Finding reliable vendors for everything from stationery and furniture to smart boards and ERP software often involves a maze of offline calls and manual follow-ups. Sivasis Garabadu, the Founder of KAPSSN, is simplifying this process by building a unified B2B platform that acts as an "Amazon for schools," providing a single-window solution for every institutional need.

Identifying the Loophole: From OYO to EdTech

A B.Tech graduate from KIIT University, Sivasis cut his teeth in the startup world at companies like OYO and Champs. During his time in the educational sector, he noticed a recurring problem: school leadership struggled to find an ample variety of products in the local market and didn't have the luxury of time to wait for individual salesmen to visit. "Principals and Chairmen want the product when they want it, not when the market decides to show it," Sivasis notes.

In early 2019, Sivasis and his colleagues decided to address this gap. Starting with a simple brochure and a few key relationships, they began aggregating products from various national vendors and offering them to schools in Odisha and Chhattisgarh. What began with two or three items has now evolved into a robust catalog of over 150 products.

"KAPSSN is a one-stop solution for all educational needs—be it hardware, software, or stationery. We are bridging the gap between national quality and local institutional requirements." — Sivasis Garabadu

The E-commerce Pivot: Building the 'KAPSSN' App

While KAPSSN began as an offline aggregator, Sivasis’s vision has always been digital. The company is transitioning into a full-scale e-commerce platform where school administrators can browse, order, and track deliveries directly from their smartphones. This model eliminates the need for physical sales visits while maintaining the trust and "face value" that is critical in the Eastern Indian education market.

The KAPSSN One-Stop Catalog

Hardware: Smart boards, classroom furniture, and technological infrastructure.
Software: ERP systems, skill development apps, and educational content from partners like Tata and EduFire.
Stationery & Books: A complete range of textbooks and classroom supplies.
Installation Support: Unlike traditional e-commerce, KAPSSN’s team handles the physical setup and installation of hardware on-site.

Adapting to the New Normal: COVID Safety Solutions

The pandemic has accelerated the education industry's transformation. While hardware sales saw a temporary dip, the demand for software and hygiene solutions skyrocketed. Sivasis pivoted quickly, launching a "COVID Safety Pack" specifically for schools, including masks, gloves, temperature scanners, and sanitizer vending machines.

"Schools with small kids need to be even safer than general offices," he explains. By evolving the product line to meet current challenges, KAPSSN has remained a relevant and indispensable partner for private schools preparing to reopen.

Growth at a Glance

Product Range: Expanded from 3 to 150+ specialized educational products in one year.
Geographic Reach: Strong foothold in Odisha and expanding into Chhattisgarh and the wider Eastern market.
B2B Model: Directly catering to Principals and Chairmen of K-12 institutions.

Lessons in Bootstrapping and Resilience

Sivasis hails from a business family, which provided him with the initial mindset and support needed to leave a high-paying corporate job. However, his journey hasn't been without challenges, particularly in recruitment and managing partnerships. He credits his time at OYO and the mentorship of Ritesh Agarwal as his primary inspiration.

Sivasis's Advice for Young Founders

Identify the Loophole: Don't just follow trends. Look for the gaps in traditional industries like procurement or logistics.
Value Your 'Face Value': In B2B, especially in education, your personal reputation and reliability are your biggest assets.
Evolve or Perish: Whether it's moving from offline to an app or adding safety equipment during a pandemic, stay flexible.
Talk and Evolve: Share your ideas with others. The fear of people "copying" your idea is often misplaced; the real value is in the execution and the knowledge you gain from sharing.

Future Vision: Leading the Eastern Market

Sivasis’s goal is to make the KAPSSN app the leading platform for educational sales in Eastern India. By focusing on a "B2B and B2C" hybrid approach, he aims to ensure that no school, regardless of its location, is deprived of quality educational tools. For Sivasis, entrepreneurship is a "9 AM to 9 AM" commitment—one that he embraces with the same passion he saw in the founders he once worked for.

"Look around the market and find your 'why'," he tells aspiring entrepreneurs. "The moment you find a product that solves a real pain point, the journey has already begun."