Jaipur | Rajshree Upadhyaya | Laxmi Baburao Bijapur has established a strong identity by improving and simplifying the child care ecosystem through the launch of Pragyan Child Development Center. When the center appeared on Shark Tank India Season 5, it was not just another startup story, but a meaningful solution to a problem faced by countless families across India.
In 2020, she started this venture in Bengaluru along with her husband and co-founder Shreya Batra. It began with the need to make developmental care for children more accessible and effective. What started as a focused effort to bridge the gap in access to therapy gradually evolved into a structured and scalable model for child care.
Pragyan is built on identifying a critical issue-parents of children with developmental conditions such as autism, ADHD, cerebral palsy, and learning delays often struggle to access coordinated care. Typically, therapies are fragmented across multiple specialists, leading to both emotional and financial strain. Pragyan addressed this by creating an integrated platform that offers speech and language therapy, occupational therapy, ABA and behavioral therapy, physiotherapy, and special education under one roof, ensuring continuity and consistency in treatment.
What sets the brand apart is its systematic approach. Instead of offering generic sessions, Pragyan follows a well-defined process that begins with screening and assessment, moves to diagnosis, and concludes with a personalized intervention plan. Each child receives tailored therapy based on their specific developmental needs, allowing measurable progress over time. This structured approach not only improves outcomes but also builds confidence among parents who seek clarity and direction in their child’s journey.
Focus on Affordability and Reach
As the company grew, it expanded beyond one-on-one therapy into a broader ecosystem. It introduced group therapy sessions and shadow teaching support, helping children better adapt to social and academic environments. By integrating these services, Pragyan evolved from being just a therapy provider to becoming a bridge between clinical care and real-world application.
Parental counseling and involvement became central pillars, ensuring that progress extends beyond therapy sessions into everyday life. Accessibility has always been at the core of the founders’ vision. Instead of positioning itself as a high-cost specialized clinic, Pragyan focused on affordability and reach. By establishing multiple centers in Bengaluru and maintaining competitive pricing, the company ensured that quality developmental care could reach a wider audience.
This strategy enabled consistent growth, transforming the venture from a single center into a multi-location network within a short span of time. Their appearance on Shark Tank India further validated the business model. The founders entered the show seeking Rs. 1 crore for 5% equity, valuing the company at Rs. 20 crore. The pitch sparked discussions around scalability, therapist availability, and maintaining quality during expansion. The deal they secured strengthened investor confidence in both the impact and sustainability of the model, bringing greater visibility to a sector that is often underrepresented.
Expanding Presence with a Growing Team of Professionals
Today, Pragyan Child Development Center is actively operating and expanding its presence with multiple centers and a growing team of professionals. Its steady growth reflects both rising demand and increasing trust, highlighting greater awareness around early intervention and developmental care in India.
What truly sets Pragyan’s journey apart is its ability to transform a fragmented and often challenging process into a structured, compassionate, and accessible system. By combining professional expertise with a deep understanding of parents’ needs, the founders have built a model that goes far beyond therapy-one that empowers children to grow, adapt, and thrive in their own unique way.
