Narasimha Mikkilineni

A Visionary Educator, Deep Thinker, and Humble Reformer

Founder CEO

LACE - India`s First Career OTT

Some revolutions don’t begin with a protest or a loud disruption—they begin with a question.That one question from a disinterested student changed everything for Narasimha Mikkilineni, Founder & CEO of LACE – India’s First Career OTT. It shook the foundations of conventional teaching and planted the seed for something much larger—a complete reimagination of how we learn, why we learn, and who we learn from. In a country where 12 million students prepare each year for competitive exams—and where success often depends more on access than ability—the test prep industry has long valued quantity over quality. But Narasimha saw the cracks early on: overcrowded classes, burnt-out students, senior teachers taking demos and vanishing, and a misplaced obsession with formulas over understanding. So, he built LACE—India’s first career OTT platform—not as an ed-tech trend, but as a deeply personal mission. With capped batches, zero rote learning, and a belief that aptitude is the language of life, he’s helping students unlearn the old system to thrive in a new one. TradeFlock spoke with Narasimha to understand how a teacher became a changemaker and why his journey may just be the future of education in India.

If I already have the book, why should I listen to you?

Tell us something about your background and what inspired you to start India’s first OTT learning platform?

The idea of LACE—India’s first Career OTT— was born during the COVID lockdown, when everything paused except learning. I saw EdTech booming, but I also saw it becoming a profit-driven game, rather than a purpose-driven one. Having trained at some of the most renowned institutes, I recognised the gaps: crowded classes, disconnected faculty, and students left without genuine guidance. I wanted to change that. So, we capped each batch at 25 students— something we’ve done since 2008—and focused on real understanding over mass instruction. Even if I serve 50 students, they should get 100% effort. LACE wasn’t built to scale fast, but to solve what others ignored: personalised, effective, teacher-led learning.

How do you keep students engaged without overwhelming them?

I often say, “Even a Ferrari needs to stop for fuel.” Just because a student is sharp doesn’t mean they need 6–7 hours of nonstop classes. At LACE, we’ve kept sessions to 1.5 hours since day one— because true learning happens after class, when the mind reflects and practices. I’d rather teach one concept well than rush through five. It’s not about how long they sit; it’s about what they take away. Like Virat Kohli focusing on run rate over flashy sixes, consistency beats cramming. If a student understands deeply in one hour and cracks the exam, that’s success. For me, quality always wins over quantity.

What are the top three misconceptions about cracking competitive exams?

Many believe cracking competitive exams is about extreme effort, but that’s only part of the story. First, the idea that you must study 12 hours daily is a myth—learning should be smart, not stretched. Second, people think only constant training brings results, but “60% of success depends on the student walking the path with discipline.” Third, the belief that online coaching fails stems from poor execution, not the medium itself.

What’s your one hack for a student with just 10 minutes a day to crack an exam in six months?

If you’ve only got 10 minutes a day, treat them like gold. Start by breaking core concepts into short, sharp notes—“30 concepts, 300 focused minutes.” Master the basics first, then use the next month to apply them in real-time. It’s not about time—it’s about how wisely you use it.

How did a classroom experience shape your teaching approach and LACE’s foundation?

A student once told me, “If you’re just repeating what’s in the book, why should I attend your class?” That moment changed everything. I paused, went back to the basics, and discovered that most arithmetic concepts are just fragments of three core ideas—interconnected and rooted in one central thread. Since then, I’ve focused on logic over formulas. Real-life math doesn’t come from memorising—it comes from understanding. At LACE, we’ve built our entire approach around that. I don’t teach formulas; I teach how to think. And when students realise they can solve complex questions using just basic operations and clear logic, it’s not only empowering—it’s transformative. That’s the DNA of LACE.

What has been your biggest learning and challenge in building India’s first career OTT?

The biggest challenge was “breaking the inertia.” When we introduced one-hour classes with a focus on self-practice, parents and students were sceptical. It took years of consistent results for them to understand our model truly. Launching LACE as a career OTT came from a simple thought—If entertainment can reach homes, why not education? Limited batch size, live interactive sessions, and later, recorded content helped us scale without losing quality. Surprisingly, our online engagement outperformed offline batches. The journey taught me that innovation requires persistence, and once people see the value, applause always follows—just not instantly.

Do you see LACE expanding into areas such as upskilling or international exam preparation?

Absolutely—we’ve already stepped into international exam prep with live training batches for GRE and SAT. Our Target 320 GRE program has achieved a success rate of 13 out of 24 students scoring above 320—the highest in Hyderabad. In the SAT, we’ve had students score 1450+ and even one with a perfect 1500. We keep our batches small, with just five students, because scaling doesn’t mean crowding—it means achieving consistent, high-quality outcomes at every step.