The story of FAST began with a powerful realization.

While completing his Teach For India Fellowship (2013–2015), our founder Varun Prasad witnessed firsthand how deeply teachers can transform the lives of students. In just two years, he saw children who once struggled to even recognize alphabets grow into confident readers and thinkers — some even writing book reviews on Harry Potter.

This experience reinforced a simple but profound truth: when teachers truly connect with students and invest time in understanding them, extraordinary transformation becomes possible.

Inspired by this belief, Varun started FAST in a very humble way in 2015 — with just 9 students in his apartment in Bangalore. What began as a small initiative gradually grew as parents and students experienced a different approach to learning — one where teachers spent time understanding every child, identifying their strengths, and helping them build confidence alongside academic excellence.

Over the years, FAST grew organically through trust and results, eventually becoming a thriving learning community mentoring over 700 students.

In these years, FAST has not only produced school toppers and academic achievers, but has also focused deeply on building character in students. We believe that education must go beyond marks — it must nurture responsible, thoughtful individuals who are prepared to face the challenges of the world. In our own way, we strive to contribute to the nation by addressing many of the challenges our country faces — one classroom at a time.

Today, FAST is supported by a dedicated team consisting of our principal, teachers, and support staff, all working together with the same shared vision — to identify every child’s strength and help them grow into confident learners and responsible individuals.

Varun Prasad is also recognized for his contributions to education as a TEDx Speaker, a Shiksha Bhushan Awardee (Teacher’s Guild Awards), and one of the Top 100 Educationists in India. Yet, the heart of FAST remains the same as it was on day one — a place where teachers take the time to understand every child and help them discover their strengths.