Former Google VP Peeyush Ranjan launches AI-first edtech startup Fermi.ai

The former VP at Google, Airbnb and Flipkart, Peeyush Ranjan, has launched an AI-first edtech startup named Fermi.ai, focused on reshaping high-school STEM education.

The platform, which initially covers Mathematics, Physics and Chemistry, aims to move away from shortcut-driven AI learning by prioritising conceptual clarity, logical reasoning and deep understanding over instant answers. The company positions itself as an alternative to AI tools that function primarily as answer generators.

Headquartered in Singapore, Fermi.ai is being operated through subsidiaries in India and the United States. The startup has emerged from the Meraki Labs ecosystem, where Ranjan works alongside entrepreneur Mukesh Bansal, co-founder of Myntra.

According to the company, Fermi.ai is built around the idea of ‘productive struggle’, a learning approach that encourages students to actively engage with problems rather than relying on automated solutions. This method is intended to help students develop strong fundamentals while providing educators with deeper insights into learning patterns and gaps.

The startup said its AI-driven system is designed to support schools and institutions in creating data-informed learning environments that strengthen mastery instead of promoting rote or prompt-based learning.

With its focus on foundational understanding, Fermi.ai aims to redefine how artificial intelligence is used in education, especially at the critical high-school level where conceptual grounding plays a key role in long-term academic success.