On-demand language practice platform Tutoring has netted a funding round of 800 million won (USD $715,00) from Silicon Valley-based venture capital firm Big Basin.
Tutoring is a mobile service that connects English language learners with native speaking tutors. Launched in September last year, the service has already attracted over 40,000 users, with this number growing by an average of 22% every week.
Unlike other services like Italki, with Tutoring there is no need to schedule a class times; you just simply open the app and starting chatting. Users can select which tutor they would like to talk with, and the company says the response from office workers and freelancers who struggle to schedule regular class times has been positive.
English study is a stressful part of life for many Koreans, most jobs requiring at least some English language skill and standardized test scores. Time and money are also an issue, and with a culture of frequently working later, sometimes paying for English academy classes after work can end up being a waste. Tutoring offers a cheaper alternative to phone English, also popular with workers, and offers 200 minutes at a price of USD $40.
All tutors are put through a strict review process before they can teach, and the service currently has around 170 native speakers. Tutoring says that it offers up to 30% higher pay than its competitors in order to get quality teachers.
Aside from the general user base, the app is also being embraced by companies and organizations, with the Korea Radio Promotion Association and Constitutional Research Institute already using it to train staff in talking with native speakers.
“Through this investment, we plan to expand to languages other than English, including Korean and Chinese, and enter other overseas markets to grow into a global education company,” say co-CEOs of Tutoring, Tasha Kim and Kyunghee Choi.
