When we started CoLearn, our goal was clear: to make quality education accessible and help students master challenging subjects. However, as we scaled, we realized that achieving true, lasting impact required us to make a fundamental operational shift.
In a recent discussion at Holon IQ’s Global Impact Summit 2022, our Co-Founder and COO, Marc Irawan, shared the strategic thinking behind our transition to an online-only model and how keeping student outcomes as our primary metric shapes everything we build.
Here is an inside look at our journey and strategic direction so far:
Moving to an online-only model (and staying)
Transitioning away from physical centers was a deliberate, strategic decision. While offline setups provided a familiar learning environment, they also introduced geographical constraints and operational friction that slowed down our ability to scale quality teaching.
By refocusing entirely on a digital-first model, we were able to:
Remove geographic barriers: Students across different regions can now access the exact same high standard of instruction without being limited by physical location.
Consolidate product & pedagogical focus: Rather than splitting resources between physical operations and digital infrastructure, our team can direct 100% of its energy into optimizing our platform, curriculum, and live learning experience.
High-touch engagement in a digital space
A common challenge in online education is keeping students actively engaged. We knew that simply recording lectures and hosting passive video libraries would not yield real learning outcomes.
To create an environment where students actually thrive online, we focused on:
Interactive live classes: We design our live sessions around active participation, real-time problem-solving, and direct feedback so students stay focused and supported.
Instant academic support: When a student gets stuck on a homework problem, waiting until the next class creates frustration. Integrating AI technology with our Q&A feature, Tanya, to provide immediate assistance keeps their momentum going.
Student success as the ultimate north star
For us, retention isn’t just a growth metric—it’s a direct reflection of whether a student is actually understanding the material and improving in school.
If a student’s confidence and grades aren’t improving, the model isn’t working. We anchor our strategy around student success by:
Tracking leading indicators of progress: We monitor early performance indicators to spot where a student is struggling, allowing our tutors to step in before learning gaps widen.
Building real trust with families: Long-term sustainability in education comes down to visible progress. When parents see their children gain academic confidence, trust follows naturally.
Balancing operational realities & strategic sustainability
Building a venture-backed EdTech startup requires balancing rapid growth with unit economics. Marc emphasized that a successful strategy isn’t just about user acquisition—it’s about building a sustainable cost structure that supports quality teaching at scale.
Empowering teachers: Tech doesn’t replace great educators; it amplifies them. Providing teachers with better tools and structured content allows them to teach hundreds of students simultaneously without sacrificing personal connection.
Sustainable growth over burn: The pivot allowed CoLearn to optimize operational costs while doubling down on product features that drive measurable student progress.
Building for sustainability
Scaling an EdTech platform requires balancing accessible pricing with operational efficiency. Going online-only allowed us to streamline our cost structure and reinvest directly into what matters most: our teaching quality and tech capabilities.
Technology doesn’t replace great teachers—it empowers them. By building specialized tools for our tutors, we allow them to teach effectively at scale without sacrificing individual connection or pedagogical depth
For a deeper dive into Marc Irawan’s discussion on CoLearn’s online-only strategies, you can watch the interview with Marc Irawan to see how the platform adapted its model and long-term strategy for student success.
About Holon IQ
HolonIQ is a leading global market intelligence platform powering decisions across education, climate tech, and healthcare. Its proprietary data, research frameworks, and market analysis help leaders and investors identify growth trends, benchmark progress, and drive impact worldwide.
