In an exclusive interview with Saunak Ghosh, Co-Founder & CEO of TalentGum, he discusses how the live-learning platform is redefining extracurricular education by helping children turn screen time into meaningful skill-building. What began as a single-course idea has evolved into a global platform offering expert-led learning across coding, chess, music, art, and more, giving children the flexibility to explore diverse interests while developing structured, measurable skills.
Built around its Discover, Develop, Shine framework, TalentGum combines progressive curricula with live, interactive learning to move children beyond passive content consumption. With a presence across 70+ countries, a network of trained educators and programmes such as its Trinity College London-affiliated music courses, the platform is building a model of extracurricular learning that blends curiosity, consistency and real-world application.
In this interaction with IANS, Saunak Ghosh shares his perspective on the growing need for purposeful screen time, the value of multi-domain learning and the challenges of creating a consistent, world-class learning experience for children across diverse markets.
1. TalentGum offers multiple courses across domains through a single platform. How does this help children explore different interests, and what gap were you addressing?
When we started TalentGum, most platforms treated a child’s extracurricular life as a series of disconnected apps and enrolments – one for coding, another for music, a separate one for art. We wanted to build a single, trusted space where a child could explore multiple interests without parents having to manage five different platforms and vet five different providers. This allows children to explore and discover where their true passion lies before choosing where to build deeper, long-term mastery. A child curious about both chess and public speaking shouldn’t have to pick just one based on logistical convenience. That gap, between a child’s natural curiosity and the fragmented way extracurricular learning was being delivered, is exactly what TalentGum was built to close.
2. With courses spanning coding, chess, music, art and more, how does TalentGum ensure structured learning while allowing flexibility to explore?
Every course on TalentGum follows a progressive, age-appropriate curriculum, so structure isn’t sacrificed for variety. This is anchored by our Discover, Develop, Shine framework: children first discover a field that interests them, then develop real depth through consistent, expert-led practice, and finally shine by applying what they’ve learned to real projects and showcases. The flexibility comes in what a child chooses to explore; the structure comes in how each course is taught, step by step, by trained educators. So a child can explore coding now and chess later, but within each, they’re following a defined path toward genuine skill, not just casual exposure. This naturally complements school learning: while traditional education builds core academics, we provide the structured space for essential life skills like logic, creativity, and confidence.
3. With parents seeking alternatives to passive screen time, how does TalentGum use live, expert-led learning to turn screen time into skill-building time?
Our starting belief was simple: the problem was never screens themselves, but what fills the time spent on them. Live, expert-led classes change that equation completely. Instead of a child passively consuming content, they’re engaging in real time with a teacher, solving problems, asking questions, and getting immediate feedback, the same way they would in a physical classroom. That interactivity is what separates skill-building from scrolling. Whether it’s a live chess move, a coding exercise, or a music lesson, the child is actively creating and thinking, not just watching. This is the core of our philosophy: to Turn Screen Time Into Skill Time, one live class at a time.
4. TalentGum’s music programme offers Trinity College London-recognised courses. How do these certifications add value to a child’s learning journey?
Trinity College London is one of the most globally respected bodies for music examination, and offering their certification within our music programme gives children something beyond a participation certificate; it gives them a credential that’s recognised internationally. For a child, that translates into real, measurable progress they can see and be proud of. For parents, it’s reassurance that the time and effort invested is building genuine, benchmarked skill, not just occupying an afternoon. It also sets a standard for how we think about every course on TalentGum: we want children to walk away with capability that holds up outside our platform too, wherever their interests take them next.
5. As TalentGum grows across 70+ countries, what are the biggest opportunities and challenges in catering to children with diverse interests, needs, and cultural backgrounds?
The biggest opportunity is also the biggest challenge: building something consistent enough to trust globally, while staying relevant locally. Children in different countries have different learning styles, schedules, and cultural contexts, making it essential to adapt learning to each child’s context. We’ve focused on building a team of educators who adapt their teaching to connect with children anywhere in the world, while keeping our world-class curriculum consistent and engaging, irrespective of a child’s geographical location. The opportunity, though, is significant: proving that a live-learning platform built in India can set a global standard for how children everywhere build skills beyond the classroom.
