Neha Ahmed is the co-founder of Educase, a business that manufactures school bags that fold into a desk for students who attend under-resourced schools. 

ABOUT NEHA

Originally from Pakistan, Neha attended the London School of Economics where she met Vedika, the other founder of Educase. While there, Neha and Vedika partnered up for a class project to design a start-up. Neha said of the project, “With Vedika and I being from Nepal and Pakistan respectively, we were already aware of some of the challenges within education in South Asia and knew that there was a lack of infrastructure in many schools.”

Millions of children in South Asia attend schools with little-to-no classroom furniture, particularly in primary schools where children study on the ground. So, Neha and Vedika thought of a solution—a school bag that unfolds into a smooth desk surface for children to read and write on while at home and school. Their start-up idea won the course competition, sparking their motivation to pursue it full-time after graduation. 

DISTRIBUTING BAGS TO STUDENTS IN SOUTH ASIA

Today, Educase partners with organizations such as NGOs to distribute Educases to schools and students at no cost. “The children are always so excited to receive their bags,” said Neha. “It’s so great to see their smiles, and it definitely helps us stay motivated, too!” 

Through the Because Accelerator, Neha hopes to learn from the successes and learnings of The Shoe That Grows—particularly around logistics and production. Neha hopes to soon expand into Africa and South Asia, as well as develop additional features such as a solar-powered light for students in dim-lit conditions. Eventually, she hopes to create additional products that work to improve girls’ access to education, too. 

The Because Accelerator is a completely free online training and mentorship program for entrepreneurs who have product-focused ideas and business in areas impacted by poverty.