Pune startup incubated at IIM Bangalore has children sharing, talking and flipping on stories

Flip Books app, called Flip, enables a student to see a book that another child of the school has read and request it.

3 min readPuneUpdated: Jan 10, 2024 08:02 AM IST

Flip Books spotlights children between three and 14, the period when there is a lot of focus on a child’s language skill development. (Express Photo)

Do children still read the printed word in a digital world? When Pune-based Sonal Kane and Amol Kane, founders of an innovative book-centric startup, Flip Books, last checked, the kids were off on adventures with the Famous Five and Secret Seven, saving the world with Harry Potter and Dog Man, and grappling with growing up with the Ella Diaries and Tom Gates.

They were also diving into the words of Indian authors such as Rupa Pai and British names such as David Walliams.

Flip Books works with schools, and its app, called Flip, is uploaded on the phones of the children’s parents. Flip enables a student to see a book that another child of the school has read and request to read it as well.

“The second child will carry that book to school the next day and hand it over to the first child. The latter can take it home, read it over the next few days, and then return the book to the owner,” says Amol.

According to Sonal, in 41 English-medium schools of Pune and Bengaluru that they work with, the students together own 92,000 books. Flip has enabled them to share at least 17,000 of these books among themselves.

Talk of stories

Flip Books spotlights children between three and 14, the period when there is a lot of focus on a child’s language skill development.

Sonal believes reading is an essential tool for language development, and one of the ways to improve is by reading more.

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“Flip Books provides a platform for two children to meet over a story. When a child returns the book to the owner, they have a conversation about their favourite character and plot. They share book recommendations and we have a review system for the children as well,” she says.

“The parent is always aware of what the child is reading and who he or she’s interacting with,” she adds.

The startup, which began in 2020 and piloted its first school in August 2022, has been supported by Pune International Centre and incubated at IIM Bengaluru, with the latter funding the startup’s tech needs by providing them with credits for Amazon web services, among others.

Sonal comes from a technology background and has worked with the banking and finance domains for the past 12 years across the US, Europe and India. Amol, an engineer with an MBA from Oxford University, brings entrepreneurial energy to the startup.

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Guiding the guides

While Flip Books is free for students, the startup’s revenue is generated by promoting storytelling pedagogy and interdisciplinary teaching methods for faculty members of a school. This aligns the app with the NEP 2020, as it guides teachers in using captivating storybooks in the lesson plan.

The startup plans to increase the number of schools it works with to 100 by the end of 2024 and the number of books from the present 92,000 to 2 lakh. India has more than 14 lakh schools so Flip Books, clearly, has an adventure of its own for this year.

Dipanita Nath

Dipanita Nath is a Senior Assistant Editor at The Indian Express, based in Pune. She is a versatile journalist with a deep interest in the intersection of culture, sustainability, and urban life. Professional Background Experience: Before joining The Indian Express, she worked with other major news organizations including Hindustan Times, The Times of India, and Mint. Core Specializations: She is widely recognized for her coverage of the climate crisis, theatre and performing arts, heritage conservation, and the startup ecosystem (often through her "Pune Inc" series). Storytelling Focus: Her work often unearths "hidden stories" of Pune—focusing on historical institutes, local traditions, and the personal journeys of social innovators. Recent Notable Articles (December 2025) Her recent reporting highlights Pune’s cultural pulse and the environmental challenges facing the city during the winter season: 1. Climate & Environment "Pune shivers on coldest morning of the season; minimum temperature plunges to 6.9°C" (Dec 20, 2025): Reporting on the record-breaking cold wave in Pune and the IMD's forecast for the week. "How a heritage tree-mapping event at Ganeshkhind Garden highlights rising interest in Pune’s green legacy" (Dec 20, 2025): Covering a citizen-led initiative where Gen Z and millennials gathered to document and protect ancient trees at a Biodiversity Heritage Site. "Right to breathe: Landmark NGT order directs PMC to frame norms for pollution from construction sites" (Dec 8, 2025): Reporting on a significant legal victory for residents fighting dust and air pollution in urban neighborhoods like Baner. 2. "Hidden Stories" & Heritage "Inside Pune library that’s nourished minds of entrepreneurs for 17 years" (Dec 21, 2025): A feature on the Venture Center Library, detailing how a collection of 3,500 specialized books helps tech startups navigate the product life cycle. "Before he died, Ram Sutar gave Pune a lasting gift" (Dec 18, 2025): A tribute to the legendary sculptor Ram Sutar (creator of the Statue of Unity), focusing on his local works like the Chhatrapati Shivaji statue at Pune airport. "The Pune institute where MA Jinnah was once chief guest" (Dec 6, 2025): An archival exploration of the College of Agriculture, established in 1907, and its historical role in India's freedom struggle. 3. Arts, Theatre & "Pune Inc" "Satyajit Ray, Ritwik Ghatak were not rivals but close friends, says veteran filmmaker" (Dec 17, 2025): A deep-dive interview ahead of the Pune International Film Festival (PIFF) exploring the camaraderie between legends of Indian cinema. "Meet the Pune entrepreneur helping women build and scale businesses" (Dec 16, 2025): Part of her "Pune Inc" series, profiling Nikita Vora’s efforts to empower female-led startups. "How women drone pilots in rural Maharashtra are cultivating a green habit" (Dec 12, 2025): Exploring how technology is being used by women in agriculture to reduce chemical use and labor. Signature Style Dipanita Nath is known for intellectual curiosity and a narrative-driven approach. Whether she is writing about a 110-year-old eatery or the intricacies of the climate crisis, she focuses on the human element and the historical context. Her columns are often a blend of reportage and cultural commentary, making them a staple for readers interested in the "soul" of Pune. X (Twitter): @dipanitanath ... Read More

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