Success Story: From Palampur to Mohali, with IT solutions

Initially, he aspired to pursue an MBA at a top Indian Institute of Management. But destiny intervened. In November 2006, he landed his first freelance project—designing a school website. Working from home, he soon expanded into a small team, and within five months, had five employees and a growing roster of clients.

Founding Cybrain

What began as a freelance experiment was formalised in 2012 into Cybrain Pvt. Ltd. Its flagship product, Cyber School Manager, was envisioned as a 360-degree school management platform.

“Schools were using fragmented systems for accounts, library, and timetables—each from different vendors. We thought, why not integrate everything into one?” Verma recalls.

Cyber School Manager brought enquiry management, admissions, fee collection, academic assessments, timetables, accounting, and even digital marketing support under a single system. Today, it is used by over 150 schools, benefiting 2.5 lakh students and 20,000 teachers across 15 Indian states.

Expanding horizons

Building on this foundation, Cybrain diversified its offerings:
• Club Management Systems: First deployed in 2014 for Army officer institutes in Chandigarh.
• Healthcare solutions: Specialised software for IVF hospitals, developed in partnership with Jindal IVF, Chandigarh.
• International outreach: Pilots in Zambia and Kenya, with customised school management solutions adapted to their local education systems.

From schools to the armed forces and hospitals, the company has steadily expanded its footprint while retaining its core philosophy of integrated, impact-driven solutions.

Why Mohali?

For Verma, choosing Mohali as Cybrain’s base was natural. Chandigarh, the “metro next door” for Himachalis, offered proximity to home, skilled resources, and a peaceful lifestyle.

He has witnessed the city transform—areas beyond Sector 71, once deserted after dark, are now bustling with commercial activity and IT firms.

Verma also pushes back against narratives of bureaucratic roadblocks. “If you follow the law—whether PF, ESI, maternity leave, or taxes—nobody troubles you. In 13 years of running this company, I’ve never faced harassment. The ease of doing business here is real.”

Cricket, swimming, and travel are Verma’s biggest stress-busters. An active Google Maps reviewer, his food and travel reviews have each crossed 15 lakh views. In 2020, he was invited to Google’s US headquarters as part of its Local Guides programme, though the visit was cancelled due to the pandemic.

Words of advice for entrepreneurs

For Verma, entrepreneurship is not about wealth accumulation but about impact. His advice to young founders is clear:

“Entrepreneurs are here to transform the system. If you’re only chasing transactions and luxury—a big house, a Mercedes, a flashy lifestyle—you’re building a lifestyle business, not an entrepreneurial venture. True entrepreneurship is about impact—changing lives, solving real problems, and creating something meaningful for society.”

Money, he insists, is only a byproduct. “Traders also make money, but they don’t transform lives. Entrepreneurs must focus on innovation and impact. If you’re not changing anything at the root level, you’re just doing business—not entrepreneurship.”

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