We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Pranay Rishi. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Pranay Rishi below.

Pranay Rishi , thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today What’s the backstory behind how you came up with the idea for your business?

I still remember what it felt like to be a student who wanted to learn, but didn’t know how to navigate the overwhelming sea of online resources. There was no roadmap — just scattered information, endless distractions, and no clear path forward. I saw incredibly talented classmates lose their spark because they couldn’t find the right structure or community to support their goals.

That’s when it hit me: the real problem in education isn’t a lack of information — it’s the lack of personalized pathways that turn that information into empowerment. I didn’t want to wait for the perfect system to appear. I decided to build one myself.

That decision became the foundation for Nalem Study Circle. I envisioned a world where every student could become the architect of their own education — where learning was not a rigid, one-size-fits-all race but a personalized, adaptive journey. What excited me most was that no one was truly addressing this intersection: personalization, focus, and community. There were platforms that gave students content, but none that gave students the clarity and structure they needed to actually move forward.

We built a platform where students can set goals, receive adaptive learning pathways, use AI to stay focused, and connect with a community of learners who keep each other accountable. What started as a personal mission has now grown into something much larger — a movement empowering students worldwide to learn with direction and purpose.

Pranay Rishi , before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

My name is Rishi Nalem — I’m a high school student, a technologist, and an educator passionate about reimagining how students learn. My journey into education technology started with a simple realization: students don’t just need more resources; they need the right structure to turn those resources into meaningful action.

Through Nalem Study Circle, I’ve built a platform that bridges this gap. Our core features include:

1. A personalized learning engine that transforms student goals into dynamic, structured pathways.

2. An AI-powered focus manager that helps learners commit to their goals without distractions.

3. A community network that encourages peer support and accountability.

4. And integrated content that guides not just what to learn, but how to grow as a learner.

What sets us apart is this fusion of personalization, focus, and community. We’re not just giving students a set of resources — we’re giving them the tools and structure to take ownership of their learning journey.

Beyond the platform, I’ve taught over 30 students globally through programs like Stanford University’s Code in Place, produced educational content reaching over 200,000 learners worldwide, and contributed to research in areas like autonomous drones, AR molecular modeling, and transfer learning.

The impact has been incredible: over 100,000 structured learning requests, thousands of readers and viewers, and countless students who now feel more confident in pursuing their goals.

What I’m most proud of isn’t the numbers — it’s seeing students who once felt lost now building projects, leading initiatives, and believing in their potential. My mission is to ensure no student ever feels invisible in their learning journey again.

Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?

There was a moment early in this journey that really tested me. When I launched Nalem Study Circle, I imagined students would immediately understand the value of personalized learning. But at first, there was very little engagement. Some people didn’t believe a high school student could build something impactful. Others told me the vision was too ambitious.

It would have been easy to give up. But instead, I decided to listen. I spent weeks talking with students, gathering feedback, refining the platform, and iterating over and over again — sometimes until late at night after finishing homework. I kept reminding myself why I started: because students like me needed this.

Slowly, it began to grow. One student reached out to tell me that the platform helped them structure their goals. Another shared that they finally finished a personal project because the AI tab manager helped them stay focused. Those messages meant the world to me. They reminded me that resilience isn’t about getting everything right from the start — it’s about holding onto the vision long enough to make it real.

Today, what began as a solo idea has impacted learners around the world. And that only happened because I refused to give up when it was hardest to keep going.

How did you build your audience on social media?

When I first started sharing online, I wasn’t trying to “build an audience.” I was just sharing what I was learning — small AI projects, educational tips, reflections on building Nalem Study Circle. But I focused on something very intentional: I wanted every post to help someone else.

That mindset built trust. People weren’t just following a student—they were connecting with someone who understood their struggles as learners. My first big boost came from consistently sharing my journey across platforms like LinkedIn, YouTube, and Medium. I leaned into authenticity, storytelling, and educational value rather than flashy content.

Over time, my content reached more than 200,000 learners globally. I grew to over 1,000 LinkedIn followers, 2.06k YouTube subscribers, and thousands of blog readers. But what matters most to me isn’t just numbers — it’s the messages I receive from students around the world telling me that my content helped them take their first step toward a goal.

My advice to anyone starting out: don’t focus on perfection — focus on value. Be authentic. Share your journey, your lessons, your challenges. Consistency builds trust, and trust builds community. That’s how you turn an audience into a movement.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://nalemstudycircle.org/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rishinalem/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100093271151175
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rishi-nalem/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@programmingwithrishinalem
• Other: https://blog.nalemstudycircle.org
  https://rishinalem.blogspot.com
  https://medium.com/@pranayrishi.nalem
  https://rishinalem.com

Image Credits

All Photos are Taken by Me