The Venture

Hi, thanks for reading. I’d like to start a business, and thought I’d write about it while I try to get it up and running.

The idea: language classes via Internet video.

And why would this work?

I thought you might ask that.

Well private language classes are expensive. And for teachers they can be a pain. You often spend as much time in the subway or bus as you do teaching and earning money.

Solution. Internet video! All you need is a webcam and microphone.

Teachers won’t lose time travelling, and can charge less for their services. Even better, teachers that live in places where the cost of living is low can pass savings to the student.

All they need is way to find each other. That’s what I hope to give ‘em. Well that and the tools to make the class experience as good as it would be in person. To start, I think I will focus on the English as a Foreign Language (EFL) market. But more on that later…

I figured I’d use this blog as a way to test out ideas I have about how to develop this product.

In an era when ideas and information are cheap, I plan on being very transparent with the thoughts, strategy and questions that revolve around the venture.

Hopefully, people will find that interesting. Even better if I get feedback! (hint: I’d really really love some feedback).

Readers of this blog could be anyone: people interested in creating an internet-based startup, people who have already done so, venture capitalists, venture communists (why discriminate?) language teachers, language students, anyone who likes (or doesn’t like) the idea of this service. In short, anyone who finds the idea intriguing.

A lot of these posts might even be the tongue-in-cheek, irreverent musings of a daydreaming entrepreneur. So a note to venture capitalists (who are well-known to lack discernable senses of humor*), please don’t let that scare you off if you are considering giving the business a ton of cash (at very favorable terms). This business is a mission.

Oh by the way, this is the minimum viable blog here (MVB). It’ll get better as time goes on.

Anyway, thanks all for reading. Hope to hear from you,

-   Jamie Penkethman – A recovered English as a Foreign Language (EFL) teacher.

*A note to VCs without a sense of humor. That was an example of an irreverent post, of course you guys have senses of humor and many other fine qualities—loving to laugh is just one of ‘em!

Oh by the way, I wanted to say thanks to some friends who were kind enough to give me the tech support that got me this far:

Jacob Rockowitz for general wordpress advice. www.thebigbluehouse.com

Luci Westphal for resolving nameserver issues. If you need something filmed, talk to Lucy.

www.GoodHardWorkingPeople.com / http://goodhardworkingpeople.blogspot.com

Ted Jawde for just about every question in the world regarding startups… thanks Ted.

Dan Allen for hosting the site and getting it up and running. Dan owns a great digital agency.  www.supermangomedia.com