For years, Indian students have been told that the safest path to success is simple: crack a top engineering college, earn a degree, and land a high-paying placement. But for 22-year-old Lavanya Jain, the journey unfolded very differently.After struggling through two unsuccessful JEE attempts, joining a private engineering college, and eventually dropping out before completing his BTech, Lavanya chose a path few would have recommended. Today, he claims to earn around Rs 4.8 lakh per month, works with global AI startups, and says his income exceeds what many graduates from his college receive through campus placements.
From two failed JEE attempts to dropping out of engineering
Lavanya grew up in Shamli, Uttar Pradesh, and studied at Scottish International School, where he scored over 95% in Class 12, including 100 marks in Mathematics. Like thousands of engineering aspirants, he attempted the Joint Entrance Examination (JEE), but did not secure the outcome he had hoped for.He later joined the Jaypee Institute of Information Technology (JIIT), Noida, for a BTech in Electronics. However, during college he discovered a stronger interest in startup growth, marketing, content distribution and technology than in pursuing a conventional engineering career.According to Lavanya, dropping out before completing his degree turned out to be “the best decision” of his life.
Building a career without waiting for a campus placement
Instead of focusing on placements, Lavanya began freelancing while still in college. He worked with startups across product marketing, SEO, developer relations, influencer marketing and growth strategy.His LinkedIn profile shows experience with organisations including DRDO, LangDB, Dualite, Runable, Social Capital Inc., Kairos Computer and Fold.One of the biggest turning points came during his stint at AI startup Runable, where he says he helped scale the company’s launch from zero to US$1 million in annual recurring revenue (ARR) within just 10 days. He also claims to have generated nearly 30 million views for AI product launches, negotiated influencer campaigns worth over US$250,000, and built online communities across X and Reddit.Today, he works in growth leadership roles for AI startups while also handling freelance consulting assignments.
‘IIT is just a tag,’ says the 22-year-old
Lavanya has openly shared that he is not an IIT graduate and does not hold a completed engineering degree. Yet, he says he now earns more than his college’s highest placement package while working part-time as a contractor.He also claims to have built five passive income streams, with his primary source covering all his personal expenses.Sharing his perspective on career success, he has said that an IIT degree is “just a tag” and believes skills, execution and the ability to solve real business problems matter more than academic credentials. He has also stated that two IIT graduates currently work under him.
A reminder that careers can follow different paths
Lavanya Jain’s journey does not suggest that dropping out is the right choice for everyone. Completing a degree continues to offer valuable opportunities, especially in many traditional industries.However, his story highlights another reality of today’s digital economy: students who build practical skills, create portfolios and adapt quickly to emerging industries such as AI, growth marketing and creator-led businesses can sometimes carve out unconventional career paths.For students, the biggest takeaway may not be whether to complete a degree or leave college, but that continuous learning, curiosity and demonstrable skills often matter just as much as academic credentials.Disclaimer: This article is based on information shared by Lavanya Jain on his public LinkedIn profile and social media posts. Income figures, career claims and achievements have not been independently verified by The Times of India.
