In an extraordinary testament to how school environments can shape future industry leaders, Delhi Public School RK Puram's computer science club, Exun Clan, has emerged as the unexpected cradle for founders of multiple $100 million startups that are now household names across India.
The Breeding Ground for Tech Excellence
What began as an extracurricular computer club in the 1990s has transformed into what many are calling India's most successful startup incubator at the school level. The Exun Clan, founded in the early 1990s, provided a unique environment where young tech enthusiasts could experiment, collaborate, and develop the skills that would later define their entrepreneurial journeys.
The Remarkable Alumni Network
The club's alumni include some of India's most celebrated startup founders:
- Kunal Bahl and Rohit Bansal, co-founders of Snapdeal, one of India's pioneering e-commerce platforms
- Vineeta Singh, CEO and co-founder of Sugar Cosmetics, which revolutionized the Indian beauty industry
- Aman Gupta and Sameer Mehta, co-founders of Boat Lifestyle, the consumer electronics brand that became a youth sensation
Beyond Technical Skills: Building Entrepreneurial Mindset
Former members emphasize that Exun Clan was about much more than just learning to code. The club fostered critical thinking, problem-solving abilities, and most importantly, the confidence to build something from scratch. The collaborative environment encouraged students to think big and work on projects that had real-world applications.
The Ripple Effect on Indian Startup Ecosystem
The success of Exun Clan alumni has had a profound impact on India's startup landscape. Their collective ventures have:
- Created thousands of jobs across multiple sectors
- Attracted significant foreign investment into Indian startups
- Inspired a new generation of student entrepreneurs
- Demonstrated the importance of early exposure to technology and entrepreneurship
Lessons for Education Systems Nationwide
This remarkable story raises important questions about how we approach education in India. The Exun Clan model demonstrates the tremendous value of:
- Hands-on learning experiences beyond textbooks
- Peer-to-peer knowledge sharing
- Early exposure to real-world problem solving
- Creating spaces where failure is seen as part of the learning process
As India continues to position itself as a global technology hub, the Exun Clan story serves as both inspiration and blueprint for how we can nurture the next generation of innovators and entrepreneurs.
