GenRise Labs was founded by Karam Singh Kandhari, an IB student at Sevenoaks School in the UK, whose interest in the intersection of artificial intelligence, entrepreneurship and development led him to a larger question: how can young people gain meaningful access to emerging technologies — and use those skills not only to create opportunities for themselves, but to create value within the communities around them?

Karam's connection to Bihar grew through his mathematics tutor in Dubai, Pankaj Jha, whose own commitment to giving back to his community there inspired Karam to consider how his interests could be put to meaningful use. Working with KCS Foundation and local educators, he began translating that idea into GenRise.

From the outset, Karam conceived GenRise as more than access to technology. He fundraised to help provide the technology infrastructure for one of the programme's computer labs, while developing a model that combined practical digital and GenAI skills, entrepreneurial thinking and real-world application.

Central to that model was the idea of connecting students with local micro-entrepreneurs. By working on genuine business challenges, students could move beyond learning how to use technology to understanding where, why and for whom to use it — developing their own capabilities while creating something of value for their community.

Karam has been closely involved in developing the curriculum and student micro-agency model, and in working with students, teachers and local partners to shape the programme around needs on the ground. His longer-term ambition is for GenRise to become increasingly locally led, with students progressing from learners to creators and eventually mentors, and using their skills to contribute within their own communities.

For Karam, GenRise is ultimately about more than digital skills. It is about giving young people the tools, opportunity and confidence to recognise what they are capable of — and the experience of using that capability with purpose.

“I want students to leave GenRise with more than digital skills. I want them to have the confidence to look at a problem and think, ‘Maybe I can do something about this.’’

— Karam Singh Kandhari, Founder