YAH Foundation Ltd.

Team Members: Devansh Dhandhania, Palak Dalmia, Samrudhi Selote & Swarnim Baheti

About: 

The Xavier’s Consulting Club initiated a strategic collaboration with YAH Foundation, a startup dedicated to providing high-quality educational courses on sustainability and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to high school students across India. These courses were offered during specific periods each year, targeting students with an interest in sustainability and environmental education.

The consulting team played a pivotal role in supporting YAH Foundation by conducting thorough research, comprehensive analysis, and strategic planning to facilitate the successful establishment and growth of its educational initiatives. The engagement aimed to enhance the accessibility, affordability, and effectiveness of sustainability education for high school students, ensuring the long-term impact and scalability of YAH Foundation’s programs.

Market Analysis: 

The consultancy engagement commenced with an in-depth study of the sustainability education sector in India. This market analysis focused on understanding key market dynamics, identifying prevailing challenges, and uncovering growth opportunities for YAH Foundation The analysis considered various aspects, including industry trends, demand drivers, and potential roadblocks that could impact the adoption of sustainability education among high school students.

Key Market Challenges Identified:

1. Limited Access to Sustainability Education: Sustainability education is not widely integrated into mainstream high school curricula in India, making external courses a crucial medium for students to gain relevant knowledge. However, the lack of awareness about such courses hinders student participation.
2. Need for Digital Integration: Traditional classroom-based learning models often fail to engage students effectively. A significant gap was identified in the integration of digital tools such as online modules, interactive content, and gamified learning experiences that could enhance student engagement.
3. Financial Accessibility for Students from Diverse Socio-Economic Backgrounds: Many students from lower-income backgrounds find it challenging to afford specialized sustainability courses. A pricing model that accommodates students from varying financial backgrounds is essential for widespread adoption.
4. Building Resume in High-School:

Students, driven by the need to strengthen their college applications, are increasingly seeking out sustainability-focused courses and experiences, as colleges now prioritize and value demonstrated commitment to environmental responsibility.

Through the market analysis, the consulting team provided YAH Foundation with actionable insights and recommendations to address these challenges, ensuring greater reach and impact in sustainability education.

Competitor Analysis: 

A meticulous competitor analysis was undertaken to understand the competitive landscape of the sustainability education domain. This analysis focused on identifying both direct and indirect competitors operating in the sector, evaluating their course structures, pricing models, and unique selling propositions.

Key Aspects of the Competitor Analysis:

1. Identification of Key Competitors: The consulting team categorized competitors into two groups:
   • Direct Competitors: Organizations that provide similar sustainability-focused courses targeted at high school students.
   • Indirect Competitors: Educational platforms that offer broader environmental science or sustainability-related courses as part of their curriculum.
2. Competitive Landscape Chart: A comparative analysis was conducted using a two-dimensional framework with price points and product specifications as key axes. This helped position YAH Foundation within the competitive ecosystem and identify areas for differentiation.
3. Pricing and Course Structure Analysis: The team analyzed pricing models across different competitors, including both nonprofit and for-profit entities. This helped YAH Foundation formulate a competitive yet accessible pricing strategy for its course offerings.
4. Key Insights from Competitor Analysis:
   • Leading organizations successfully leveraged digital platforms to enhance course engagement.
   • Subscription-based or tiered pricing models were commonly used to ensure affordability.
   • Competitors offering hands-on projects and real-world applications attracted higher student engagement.

This analysis enabled YAH Foundation to refine and strengthen its own educational courses, ensuring a unique value proposition and improved market positioning.

Market Sizing and TAM Computation:

The consulting team conducted an extensive market sizing exercise to determine the Total Addressable Market (TAM) for YAH Foundation This analysis involved a supply-side and demand-side approach, ensuring an accurate and well-supported estimation of market potential.

Supply-Side Analysis:

• The team leveraged UNICEF data to analyze India’s urban high school student population.
• A segmentation approach was adopted to categorize schools based on income levels, identifying top-tier schools where students are more likely to purchase sustainability courses.

Demand-Side Analysis:

• The team focused on estimating the number of high school students interested in sustainability education.
• Top-tier cities with strong educational infrastructures were identified, considering the presence of international and private schools where interest in sustainability education was likely higher.
• Surveys and historical participation data from similar programs were analyzed to determine student interest levels.

Through this analysis, the consulting team provided YAH Foundation with a clear and realistic market potential estimation, ensuring alignment with the project’s scope and available data.

Stakeholder Engagement Through User Interviews: A critical component of the engagement was direct interaction with potential users to gather valuable feedback on course offerings and expectations. The consulting team conducted structured interviews with 30 high school students across India, representing diverse educational backgrounds and career interests.

1.  Demonstrated Baseline Awareness, High Interest, and Advocacy for Early Education:

The survey revealed a near-universal pre-existing knowledge of sustainability and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) amongst respondents, likely attributable to curriculum integration.  Furthermore, a significant majority (11 out of 12) expressed a strong willingness to enroll in a sustainability course, signifying a keen interest in deepening their understanding. 

Notably, one respondent specifically highlighted the heightened concern for environmental issues among middle school students compared to older students, suggesting a need for targeted education at a younger age.

2.  Preference for Interactive and Accessible Learning:

Students favor engaging learning methods, such as online courses and practical activities, highlighting the importance of real-life examples and hands-on experience in sustainability education. Concerns regarding cost and time constraints, particularly for older students, underscore the need for accessible and flexible course delivery.

3.  Flexibility in Course Structure and Emerging Content Interests:

While some students expressed a preference for a dedicated sustainability subject, most are receptive to integrating it within existing curricula or through extracurricular options.  The survey also reveals emerging interests in the intersection of sustainability with mental health and technology, suggesting opportunities for innovative and interdisciplinary course design.

The findings from these interviews directly informed course development, helping YAH Foundation design more practical and student-centric programs that aligned with user needs and expectations.

Conclusion: 

The consulting team successfully delivered a comprehensive, well-researched project report addressing all critical aspects of YAH Foundation’s educational initiatives. Through meticulous market analysis, detailed competitor insights, and strategic recommendations, the team provided a strong foundation for YAH Foundation to expand its reach and impact.

The client expressed high satisfaction with the consulting services, particularly appreciating the depth of research and actionable insights provided. With the structured approach outlined in this project, YAH Foundation is well-positioned to scale its sustainability education programs, making a meaningful impact on high school students across India.

Note: Since we signed a Non-Disclosure Agreement, fictitious identity (YAH Foundation) is utilized instead of actual names of client.