Gautam Anand, an 11th-grade student from Rochester, Minnesota, has turned his passion for coding and geography into a thriving business. His game WorldGuessr has generated over $100,000 in annual revenue while attracting more than 1 million users worldwide.
From Classroom Frustration to Educational Innovation
The inspiration for WorldGuessr came when Gautam noticed his friends’ frustration with limited access to similar geography games during school hours. Launched in April 2024 as a side project, the quiz-based game uses Google Maps street view to challenge players to identify their virtual location. Users can explore surroundings, find landmarks, and earn points based on accuracy.
The game addresses a critical educational gap. According to the Nation’s Report Card, student geography scores have declined since 2014, while a 2019 Gallup study revealed that adults average only about 50% correct answers on geography questions.
Rapid Growth and Technical Challenges
WorldGuessr’s popularity exploded after educational gaming sites like CoolMathGames featured it. The user base grew from initial friend circles to 100,000 users by September 2024, reaching 1 million by December. This rapid scaling presented technical challenges, with servers crashing under heavy load, forcing Gautam to continuously upgrade infrastructure.
The game generates revenue through licenses, advertising, and in-app purchases while remaining free to play. Users span multiple countries including the U.S., U.K., Germany, France, and Australia, with teachers increasingly incorporating it into classroom instruction.
Gautam’s journey began with MIT’s Scratch programming at age six, progressing through platforms like SPLASH and Replit. His advice to aspiring entrepreneurs: start small and take initiative, as meaningful achievements often grow from modest beginnings.