For Equal Opportunities in School
Through an online matching platform, Educus aims to offer personalized tutoring at affordable prices. In this interview, co-founders Jonas Jaisli and Jakob Kuhn explain what motivated them to start this venture.
Jonas and Jakob, what does your startup offer?
Jakob: Educus provides quality-assured online tutoring in German-speaking Switzerland. We select all our teachers through in-person interviews. Based on our personal experience in tutoring and our technical degrees, we are well-equipped to assess their subject expertise. We then match them individually with students and operate with transparent pricing. We have no minimum number of hours or payment in advance, and our fair prices ensure equal access to education regardless of social status.
So far this doesn’t exist in Switzerland?
Jonas: In Switzerland, tutoring prices are often unclear and inconsistent. Some platforms allow tutors to set widely varying rates, while others do not display their prices transparently or charge fees that many families cannot afford. At the same time, tutors offering their services online are often not properly assessed for their subject knowledge or teaching ability.
With our services, we aim to make high-quality tutoring accessible at transparent and affordable prices.
How did you come up with your business idea?
Jonas: When I was tutoring myself, I noticed that it was mostly wealthy Swiss families who could afford to provide this extra support for their children. There are recurring discussions in our media about disparities in the Swiss education system. Very few people can afford tutoring. That is when the idea arose: Why don’t we offer tutoring in Switzerland at a price everyone can afford?
Jakob: To find qualified tutors and offer a fair price, we focus primarily on German students or recent graduates. This allows us to offer high-quality tutoring at affordable prices.
How does it work?
- Teachers (students in their 3rd semester or higher, or graduates) submit their resume, transcript, and either a certificate of enrollment or proof of graduation.
- During an interview, teachers are evaluated on their subject knowledge and teaching skills. To this end, they present assigned topics, answer subject-specific questions, and solve problems while providing clear and detailed explanations.
- Parents register children under the age of 18 through the web portal. Students who are of legal age can register on their own. When doing so, they select the subject for which they want tutoring (maths, physics, chemistry) and can specify additional requirements for the tutor as well as information about the student's learning preferences.
- Educus matches students with a suitable teacher based on subject, grade level, availability, and individual needs.
- The assigned teacher then contacts the parents or the student directly to schedule the first tutoring session.
Prices: Online tutoring costs CHF 25.– per 60 minutes for elementary and middle school students. For high school, FMS, and other high schools, the price is CHF 30.– per 60 minutes.
For more information, visit www.educus-nachhilfe.ch
What role has UniBE played in the development?
Jonas: As part of selected lectures, we were introduced to the Innovation Office and given the contact details. I met with Arno Ratzinger soon after that, and he advised us. We also planned our marketing strategy with the support of the Innovation Office.
In summary, how do you contribute to combating social inequality?
Jonas: With our services, we aim to make high-quality tutoring accessible at transparent and affordable prices. In this way, we want to reduce the financial burden on families seeking additional academic support for their children.
Jakob: Besides, we are receiving an increasing number of inquiries from learners of German as a second language. For this reason, we would like to expand our offerings in this area in the future – to help those who wish to improve their German skills for everyday life, education, or work at affordable cost.
| Name | Founding Year | Sector | More about the Startup |
|---|---|---|---|
| Educus KLG | 2025 | Eddtech |