Episode
SN3, Episode 5; He Dropped out of a Top University to Help Students Find Theirs | FT. Manish Sardana
- Podcast
- Founder Diaries Podcast
- Published
- Aug 31, 2026
- Duration seconds
- 3889
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Summary
Manish earned a place at Delhi School of Economics — one of the most selective universities in the world, admitting less than 1% of applicants. He dropped out in his first semester, knowing it wasn't the right fit, and decided to build his first company instead. Years later, he shares moment that became the starting point for Craydel, Africa's #1 AI-powered study-abroad platform, built to match African students to the universities and courses they're actually built for, using verified data, real counsellors, and a matching engine trained on real student choices.In this episode, we get into Manish's full journey — from finishing his master's, to his first job, to the decision to finally build his own business. We talk about his time in India's education tech scene, the lessons that came from scaling a business into a brand that actually penetrated the market, and how having co-founders compares to building alone. We also dig into where the idea for Craydel came from, how Craydel actually makes money, whether an MBA is really necessary for founders, and how his team uses Claude to stay efficient in their day-to-day work.This episode is brought to you by:🔹 Beauty Square KE — Your go-to destination for premium, quality beauty essentials. Visit and patronize at beautysquareke.co PARTNER SPOTLIGHT🔹 DigiTax — Simplifying tax and invoicing for businesses so you can focus on growth, not paperwork. Learn more: https://digitax.tech/ | +254795279403 DigiTax — your tax assistant in your pocketPARTNER HIGHLIGHT 🤝We’re honored to have Sarova Hotels as our Season 3 partner. From creating beautiful spaces to curating unforgettable experiences, Sarova is the best fit for your staycation, business meeting or that special celebration. Visit their website to check out their facilities…