Doctor at 20, IAS at 22: Left civil services in 18 months, today runs Rs 28000 crore company

Unacademy Co-founder Roman Saini

Most of us know Unacademy, the online learning platform used by millions. But few know the incredible story of its co-founder, Roman Saini, a man who packed several lifetimes of achievement into his youth.

His journey reads like something out of a movie. At just 16 years old, when most teenagers are focused on school and friends, Roman cleared the medical entrance examination, one of India's toughest entrance tests. By 20, he had completed his MBBS and even worked at the National Drug Dependence Treatment Center, gaining real-world medical experience.

But that was only the beginning.

At 22, a time when many are just starting their careers, Roman achieved what many spend years dreaming of. He cleared the UPSC Civil Services Examination, arguably the country's most challenging exam, and became an IAS officer. He was assigned to the Madhya Pradesh cadre and began his role as an Assistant Collector.

However, Roman's curious mind was already looking toward a bigger challenge. While serving as an IAS officer, he kept thinking about India's education system. He wondered how he could make quality learning accessible to everyone, not just a privileged few.

After just 18 months in service, he made a decision that shocked everyone. He resigned from his prestigious IAS position to pursue his vision of transforming the education system.

In 2015, along with his friend Gaurav Munjal, Roman started Unacademy. What began as an educational initiative soon grew into Sorting Hat Technologies Pvt. Ltd., the parent company of Unacademy. Today, the platform has become one of India's leading online education providers, with a market valuation of approximately Rs 28,000 crore.

From doctor to bureaucrat to entrepreneur, Roman continually reinvented himself, never resting on his accomplishments. His journey reminds us that true success isn't about accumulating titles or positions, but about following your curiosity and having the courage to build something meaningful.

His life challenges conventional notions of success and shows that sometimes, the most extraordinary achievements come from those who are brave enough to leave security behind and venture into the unknown.