Education Revolution: Prachotan DL of Bhanzu On Innovative Approaches That Are Transforming Education
An interview with Dr. Bharat Sangani
The biggest challenge in implementing our education philosophy has been understanding the culture and social background of every student we teach. That’s where the majority of our research efforts have gone. It’s not about just tweaking the syllabus, but about understanding the softer elements that influence learning in different communities and geographies.
The landscape of education is undergoing a profound transformation, propelled by technological advancements, pedagogical innovations, and a deepened understanding of learning diversities. Traditional classrooms are evolving, and new modes of teaching and learning are emerging to better prepare students for the complexities of the modern world. This series will take a look at the groundbreaking work being done across the globe to redefine education. As a part of this interview series, we had the pleasure to interview Pracholan DL.
Prachotan DL is the Co-founder and Head of Business Development of Bhanzu, where he focuses on building a global, tech-led math learning platform designed to eliminate math fear and build deep conceptual understanding. He plays a key role in shaping Bhanzu’s product vision, learning experience, and international expansion, helping scale the platform across multiple countries while keeping outcomes, consistency, and student confidence at the core.
Thank you so much for doing this with us! Our readers would love to “get to know you” a bit better. Can you share the “backstory” behind what brought you to this particular career path?
Alongside being a performing artist my entire life, I’ve also always been passionate about math education. Math has shaped the way I look at the world in a deeply positive way. When I joined hands with the founding team of Bhanzu with the goal of eradicating global math phobia, something that’s relatable to people everywhere, I decided to take it extremely seriously. I truly believed I could add meaningful value in changing the landscape of math education.
Can you share the most interesting story that happened to you since you started your career? Can you tell us what lesson you learned from that?
One of the most surprising things I’ve observed is how similar math education systems are across the world. You’d be amazed at how little they differ, especially when it comes to concept stacking, the inability to connect concepts, and even the gaps in understanding. The difference between the most advanced mathematics boards in the world and the most underprivileged ones isn’t as wide as people would assume.
The problems students face in math education are also remarkably consistent. The range of struggles faced is not very wide, and what’s startling is how rarely traditional pedagogy is questioned even though these issues are so common.
For example, I’ve travelled across the world to understand how students perceive math and I was surprised to see middle school students struggle with basic elementary arithmetic. Many students are not able to recognize that multiplication is repetitive addition, that 4 x 5 equals 20 is actually 5+5+5+5. The inability to understand what a concept actually means is incredibly widespread, and I’ve seen it across countries.
Can you briefly share with our readers why you are an authority in the education field?
I’ve had the privilege of teaching thousands of students across the world through online media and in-person classrooms. My teaching journey began early in 2018 and 2019, where during that time I worked with students across India in both private and public school sectors.
Over time, I’ve had the opportunity to spearhead a major project that involved experimenting with more than 25 variants of curriculum, varying in teaching style, classroom sizes and perceptions, concept stacking, and the correlation between concepts. I’ve done a lot of number crunching and research around pedagogy and curriculum across the world. Through teaching at scale and studying how students learn across socio-economic strata, I’ve gained a strong understanding of how education works across the world, especially in mathematics.
Can you identify some areas of the US education system that are going really great?
The U.S. education system is strong in a few areas, particularly the emphasis on overall skill development of a child. The additional focus on arts, the importance of sports, and the broader roadmap and ecosystem that shapes how students perform in college and build their futures also stand out as strong areas.
In many ways, the structure creates more opportunity for future thought leaders across a wide range of fields, and that’s one reason the U.S. has been ahead of the curve in a lot of ways. That is something that I genuinely admire about the U.S. education system.
Can you identify the key areas of the US education system that should be prioritized for improvement? Can you explain why those are so critical?
I can comment on the subject I am well versed in, which is mathematics. I believe there should be far more hands-on learning and emphasis on real-life applications rather than just conceptual teaching. In my observation, students in the U.S. have trouble relating to what they’re learning. There is room for improvement in how these learning difficulties are managed, especially across grades.
Up to a certain level, students often learn at ease which is great, but then difficulty can suddenly skyrocket after a certain grade or even after elementary school. That spike makes it harder for students to keep up.
So, managing the difficulty of conceptual learning, improving correlation between concepts, and strengthening long-term memory and recall are areas where there is significant scope for improvement in the U.S. math education system.
Please tell us all about the innovative educational approaches that you are using. What is the specific problem that you aim to solve, and how have you addressed it?
The main problem Bhanzu is aiming to solve is how we can make math fun and relatable while building a holistic understanding of the subject for students from Kindergarten all the way to high school, starting from the core foundations. We often ask ourselves how we can develop a student’s math acumen so they’re not just prepared for future grades, but can actually understand the math behind a lot of STEM fields that they’ll eventually pursue. That’s been one of our focuses since day one.
To do this, we’ve had to re-examine the entire way in which mathematics is taught. We developed our own unique curriculum that builds strong foundations first, then makes students academically equipped to tackle future concepts while providing them with a comprehensive understanding of the world around them through the lens of mathematics.
For example, a 9-year-old in ten months of time will be able to understand the basics of digital logic while also building strong foundational skills. A 12-year-old can understand the basics of finance while excelling in academics. A 7-year-old can also understand the basics of binary numbers and Boolean algebra, so that when they encounter advanced problems in the future, they aren’t overwhelmed.
These ideas might sound intimidating to a lot of people, but children are more than capable of learning complex concepts when taught in a fun, relatable manner. Bhanzu weaves in stories, correlative narratives, and activities to help concepts stick.
Since gratification is a huge aspect in learning, we also help children become quicker and more confident at math early on before taking them all the way toward future readiness. In this process, students strengthen their critical thinking abilities, learn to question situations, and master the ability to understand the “why” before the “what” and “how”. That’s what the Bhanzu team has been focused on over the past several years.
In what ways do you think your approach might shape the future of education? What evidence supports this?
In this ever-evolving world, especially with the emergence of AI, math will remain one of the most important skills a student can acquire. Our approach will help shape the future of math education by building students who are more confident, who ask better questions, and who view math not just as a subject, but as a tool to understand and change the world. By making students quicker and stronger at math, we are also strengthening cognitive abilities that are not only connected to career success, but also how they will interpret the world around them.
The evidence supporting this is straightforward. We’ve seen thousands of students become four times quicker and stronger at math. We’ve also seen 6-year-olds learn algebra effortlessly.
How do you measure the impact of your innovative educational practices on students’ learning and well-being?
From a measurement perspective, we look at accuracy, proficiency, and speed, among a few other indicators that reflect how well a student is learning mathematical concepts.
However, there are softer indicators that matter just as much. It could be a parent noticing that their child is starting to enjoy math again, or another parent watching their 7-year-old spot prime numbers on a license plate. These subtle behavioral shifts that can come about in everyday life indicate that students are beginning to internalize and understand math.
Not stressing during math exams, looking forward to math classes, and becoming more engaged are strong indicators of a positive outlook towards the subject and an improvement in a student’s overall well-being.
What challenges have you faced in implementing your educational innovations, and how have you overcome them?
The biggest challenge in implementing our education philosophy has been understanding the culture and social background of every student we teach. That’s where the majority of our research efforts have gone. It’s not about just tweaking the syllabus, but about understanding the softer elements that influence learning in different communities and geographies.
Understanding a student from a geography that is unfamiliar to us has been a challenge that we’ve overcome through conducting extensive primary research. Thousands of conversations across geographies have helped us understand what students look forward to, what terminologies resonate with them, and what kinds of stories and narratives they connect with.
Integrating this deep cultural understanding into our teacher ecosystem has been a major long-term project for Bhanzu, and that’s how we continue to overcome this challenge.
Keeping in mind the “Law of Unintended Consequences”, can you see any potential drawbacks of this innovation that people should think more deeply about?
Overthinking and impatience are two traits that people generally have when it comes to any kind of innovation, not just in education, but in technology as well. The long-term benefits of innovative pedagogy take time, patience, and understanding from every parent. If families don’t give an approach enough time to register with a student, there is potential for children to feel confused because they haven’t fully committed to one style of learning.
Constantly changing methodologies can create more inconsistencies and potentially harm learning, although I don’t view this as a huge issue right now. As more parents are willing to take that leap forward in trusting innovative approaches, this will ultimately draw positive results and long-term progress for math education.
What are your “5 Things I Wish I Knew When I First Started”?
- Identifying problems is more important than just solving problems.
- There is no one-size-fits-all approach to solving a problem.
- Consumer feedback is valuable, but it’s also important to recognize that consumers don’t always know what they truly need.
Can you please give us your favorite “Life Lesson Quote”? Can you share how that was relevant to you in your life?
This is a fun one. I’m a huge fan of Christopher Nolan. In one of his interviews, he spoke about how he felt inspired after watching 2001: A Space Odyssey and said, “Don’t try to understand everything, just feel it.”
I’ve drawn inspiration from that line in many situations — not just in my career, but across different parts of my life.
We are blessed that some of the biggest names in Business, VC funding, Sports, and Entertainment read this column. Is there a person in the world, or in the US, with whom you would love to have a private breakfast or lunch, and why? He or she might just see this if we tag them 🙂
That’s an easy one. I would love to have a meal and conversation with Robert De Niro. He has been a huge inspiration in my life, and I think it would be an incredible experience.
How can our readers further follow your work online?
Readers can stay up to date on Bhanzu’s online and in-person learning programs at bhanzu.com and bhanzu.us.
Thank you so much for these insights! This was so inspiring!
About The Interviewer: Dr. Bharat Sangani is a cardiologist and entrepreneur with over 35 years of experience, practicing in Gulfport, Mississippi, and Dallas, Texas. Board-certified in Internal Medicine and Cardiology, he specializes in diagnosing, treating, and preventing cardiovascular diseases, including heart disease and hypertension. In 1999, Dr. Sangani founded Encore Enterprises, a national real estate investment firm. Under his leadership, the company has executed transactions exceeding $2 billion, with a portfolio spanning residential, retail, hotel, and office developments. Known for his emphasis on integrity and fairness, Dr. Sangani has built Encore into a major player in the commercial real estate sector. Blending his medical and business expertise, Dr. Sangani created the Life is a Business mentorship program. The initiative offers guidance on achieving balance in health, wealth, and relationships, helping participants align personal and professional goals. Now based in Dallas, Texas, Dr. Sangani continues to practice cardiology while leading Encore Enterprises and mentoring others. His career reflects a unique blend of medical expertise, entrepreneurial spirit, and dedication to helping others thrive.
Education Revolution: Prachotan DL of Bhanzu On Innovative Approaches That Are Transforming… was originally published in Authority Magazine on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.