Postman, a software as a service (SaaS) company, announced on Monday that it will invest Rs 2 crore to create an API Lab at the Birla Institute of Technology and Science, Pilani (BITS Pilani) to encourage API literacy among students and prospective developers.
The API Lab at BITS Pilani, which is set to debut in December 2022, will foster interest in APIs and give a venue for students to develop new skills by brainstorming, developing, and experimenting with new ideas, according to the business.
As part of Postman’s Student Programme, which aims to increase API literacy among students and educators, the new API Lab at BITS Pilani will provide a venue for students to study this burgeoning technology.
Founded in 2014 by BITS Pilani graduates Abhinav Asthana and Abhijit Kane along with NSIT Delhi’s Ankit Sobti. Asthana and Sobti have previously worked together in Yahoo India.
According to the organisation, students can develop new skills and capacities through the programme, giving them a competitive advantage before graduating and looking for full-time work.
Postman’s ongoing collaboration with BITS Pilani includes a classroom programme to train and support educators who want to use APIs into their curriculum.
Postman secured $225 million in August of last year in a funding round led by current investor Insight Partners, with new investors including Coatue, famous Silicon Valley investor Mary Meeker’s Bond Capital, and Battery Venture
“Students with a strong base of API literacy can do great things,” Postman cofounder and CEO Asthana said. “Our vision is to power an API-first world, and this partnership with BITS Pilani is a major milestone on this journey. By empowering educators to teach API skills in schools and colleges around the world, we are giving students the tools they need to succeed and stand out in a competitive hiring market, so they can continue bringing the API-first world to life,” he added.
