Lucknow – Ghanshyam, a 3rd-year B.Tech CSE student from the Department of Computer Science and Engineering, Faculty of Engineering & Technology, University of Lucknow, has developed Alumconn (alumconn.in), a free SaaS platform that is being hailed as a game-changer in the student community ecosystem. At a time when most start-ups wait for funding and grants, Ghanshyam has demonstrated that strong ideas, determination, and smart execution can build a platform without financial backing.
The idea of Alumconn was born in his first year of college when Ghanshyam observed a wide gap between juniors, seniors, and alumni. Freshers often lacked proper guidance, authentic information, and direct connections. To address this, he began working in his second year on a platform where every college could have its own verified community. Alumconn enables students to post, create groups, host events, and even use an AI-powered study assistant named Drivona.
Alumconn positions itself as a direct alternative to LinkedIn, WhatsApp, and event management tools for students. Unlike LinkedIn, where finding classmates can be difficult, Alumconn directly connects batchmates and alumni. Unlike WhatsApp, which raises privacy concerns due to phone number sharing—especially for female students—Alumconn allows safe group interactions where only name and branch are visible. Moreover, instead of relying on external event links, colleges can post events directly on Alumconn, instantly notifying all their students with RSVP options.
Building the platform came with challenges. As a student, Ghanshyam could not afford expensive servers and premium tools. He extensively researched, reached out to seniors, and identified free services to keep the platform running. Initially, this made the website slow, but with his strong coding skills, he optimized performance to ensure smooth functioning.
The bigger hurdle, however, was marketing. With no corporate network or financial resources, Ghanshyam promoted Alumconn through personal social media accounts and college groups. Within days, the platform had around 100 users. Though modest, this was a remarkable achievement for a second-year student working independently. Importantly, every user found genuine value in the platform and continued using it.
Ghanshyam’s efforts soon attracted attention. In June, he received an offer of up to $350,000 in cloud credits from Google Startup. Yet, he consciously chose not to rely on costly paid services that could eventually force him to charge students. His vision has always been clear—to keep Alumconn free and accessible to all students.
To ensure long-term sustainability, Ghanshyam has devised a balanced business model. While the core platform will always remain free, premium users will enjoy exclusive benefits such as advanced features, early access, and even rewards for valuable contributions. This not only secures financial sustainability but also creates opportunities for students to be recognized and rewarded for meaningful engagement.
“My goal is to make Alumconn the go-to platform for every student, free from cost barriers and privacy risks,” said Ghanshyam. The initiative has earned strong institutional support. Prof. Manuka Khanna, Vice Chancellor of the University of Lucknow, and Prof. A.K. Singh, Dean of the Faculty of Engineering & Technology, praised Ghanshyam’s innovation. Dr. Zeeshan Ali Siddiqui, Coordinator of the CSE Department, also mentored him in overcoming challenges beyond technology, from shaping ideas to addressing student needs.
Today, students across multiple colleges are already using Alumconn, and education experts believe the platform has the potential to scale into a unicorn if widely adopted across India’s vast student population.
The platform is live and accessible at alumconn.in
