How a former Googler is targeting one million Gulf users with learning app

How a former Googler is targeting one million Gulf users with learning app

The UK's first ‘find-a-tutor' platform, which launched in the UAE last year, is targeting one million Gulf learners in 2021.

Scoodle targets global students seeking tutorage across a broad spectrum of subjects, from Arabic to music and maths.

The UK-based start-up, which wants to help tutors become ‘influencers', disclosed $760,000 in pre-seed funding in January this year. Twitter co-founder Biz Stone backed the round, alongside Tiny VC, IFG Ventures and a number of unnamed angels.

According to Scoodle's CEO, Ismail Jeilani, the global coronavirus pandemic doubled the site's metrics overnight. Activity on the online education platform site grew from 15,000 users in March to 30,000 users in April, he said.

“Around 7,000 students across the UAE and Saudi Arabia have used Scoodle's educators and learning materials over 50,000 times in the region to date,” he told Arabian Business.

“By the end of 2021, we expect to have helped between eight to 12 million students globally.”

The Scoodle CEO said he expects an uptick in UAE and Saudi Arabia-based educators in the coming year, with at least 20 percent of the region's one million learners benefitting directly from regional instructors.

Launched in late 2018, Scoodle lets students post questions, which tutors are then invited to answer to help