Roman Saini, a name that has inspired countless UPSC aspirants and young entrepreneurs, is once again making headlines — not for another government achievement, but for stepping away from Unacademy, the edtech unicorn he co-founded, to pursue a new vision.
Roman Saini’s journey is nothing short of extraordinary. Born and raised in Rajasthan, he was a gifted student with dreams that stretched far beyond the confines of a classroom. At the mere age of 16, he cracked the prestigious AIIMS medical entrance and went on to complete his MBBS. By 18, he was already serving at the National Drug Dependence Treatment Centre (NDDTC), tackling the nation’s pressing healthcare issues on the frontlines.
However, his passion to drive systemic change led him toward civil services. Moved by the lack of basic amenities in rural Haryana during his internship, Roman decided to take on one of the toughest examinations in the country — the UPSC Civil Services Exam. He passed with flying colors, securing AIR 18, and joined the Indian Administrative Services (IAS) at just 22, serving as a District Collector in Madhya Pradesh.
But Roman Saini wasn’t done dreaming.
In 2015, driven by the belief that education should be accessible to all, especially those preparing for demanding exams like UPSC, NEET, and JEE, he resigned from his prestigious IAS post. Alongside Gaurav Munjal and Hemesh Singh, he co-founded Unacademy, which started as a YouTube channel and grew into one of India’s biggest edtech platforms.
At its peak in 2022, Unacademy reached a whopping valuation of USD 3.44 billion. However, by 2025, market corrections and strategic shifts brought its valuation down to USD 800 million, with talks underway for a potential acquisition by Allen Career Institute.
Now, with fellow co-founder Hemesh Singh already having exited in 2024, both Roman Saini and Gaurav Munjal are reportedly set to leave Unacademy to focus on their next ambitious project — AirLearn, a dedicated language learning platform expected to spin off as a separate entity.
Roman’s departure marks the end of a remarkable chapter, but his journey is far from over. With AirLearn, he aims to address the growing demand for multilingual learning in India and abroad, helping bridge communication barriers in education and professional spaces.
A Story of Vision, Courage, and Change
Roman’s life stands as a testament to the power of vision and the courage to make difficult choices. Whether in the corridors of AIIMS, as a district administrator, or a startup boardroom, he continues to influence lives with unwavering resolve and purpose.