Bengaluru, Aug 26: Nealesh Dalal, Founder & Managing Trustee, JD Institute of Fashion Technology and Founder, JD School of Design, addressed the evolving education landscape at Bharat Startup Summit 2026, powered by Franchise India, held on August 23 at the Bangalore International Exhibition Centre, Bengaluru.
Nealesh joined Puneet Sharma, Head Content & Strategy, Aptech, for the panel discussion, ‘India’s Next Growth Frontier: Education, Training & Experience-Led Businesses’, moderated by Beny Sachdeva, Assistant Editor, Franchise India Media. The discussion brought focus to new-age learning models and how technology and AI are shaping education while addressing opportunities across education services, including franchising, licensing and multi-location expansion, with a focus on building trusted and scalable businesses beyond the metros.
As the conversation explored the potential of Tier-2 and Tier-3 markets, Nealesh highlighted the importance of taking quality education to these markets without compromising on standards. He noted that bringing quality faculty, technology and curriculum to non-metro locations requires significant resources, reinforcing the need for a consistent pricing approach. Drawing a parallel with established consumer brands, he said,
“When McDonald's, KFC, or Apple sell in Tier 2 or Tier 3 cities, their pricing stays universal; it doesn't drop. Why should design and skill education compromise on pricing when quality resources actually cost more to deploy there?”
Turning to the changing learning experience, Nealesh emphasised the importance of combining physical learning with digital tools, particularly for experience-led disciplines such as design. He said,
“The ideal framework is offline for foundational learning and hands-on experience, combined with online tools for application. Experience has to be physically felt; hybrid is non-negotiable for this generation.”
He also highlighted the potential for partnerships between specialised design institutes and EdTech networks to expand the reach of education. He pointed to the strength of combining specialised design expertise with established physical networks, saying,
“Design is an overarching discipline that enhances all other learning categories. Combining 36 specialised design centres with EdTech networks operating 200+ physical centres allows immediate, scalable reach.”
Rounding off the discussion, he emphasised the need for patience as education businesses scale and mature. He said,
“Education business is fundamentally about patience. When built right, it delivers high profitability, but it requires a long-term mindset.”
