Learn Things You Are Interested in With LurnQ
Classes are boring; this is the general perception of most of the students across the country. That is where LurnQ comes in. Founded by Ramesh Nidadavolu, Dewrat Arya and Tarun Mitra, it is an open online learning platform which makes learning a fun experience. Interacting with all the other users, commenting on the study matter and following teachers and students are few of the functions available. LurnQ helps one to connect with interested learners just as Facebook helps one to connect with friends.
The Thought, Story and Inspiration
Facing the same situation like many other students in the country, Tarun Mitra a technology student decided to launch a programme which would provide a fun based learning. Since already many e-learning programmes were functioning, he thought about something different to which the modern generation could associate themselves to. Facebook is in fashion, so based on a concept similar he came up with LurnQ- a social networking website for learners.
The First Step
To differentiate LurnQ from other e-learning programmes was a tedious job. Coming up with a completely different idea, launching it and making it a huge success was a difficult task. Despite everything, the business plan was formulated and the website was launched.
The Task of Promotion
In today’s time, internet is something where news travels at a faster pace when compared to other traditional platforms. Using this to their benefit, LurnQ is dependent on word of mouth and it even uses social media channels. In addition to all this, they are now partnering with companies. Partnership with Plancess is an example of this strategy and LurnQ offers full stack technology as a ready to go platform for institutes and training companies to go online. Lurn Q has even partnered with TiE Mumbai to promote knowledge about entrepreneurship.
Social media is very critical to all businesses including startups. Since they provide easy reach of any new offering virtually, it is effective for all resource constrained startups.
The Difficult Journey
Nothing great is achieved easily. As truly said by these lines they believe in the concept of ‘try fast and fail quickly’. Before LurnQ, the team tried three iterations. In the initial days, they focused more on the teaching aspect and as a result were not being able to provide adequate attention to the business side. Despite of everything, LurnQ got the feedback and growth much to their satisfaction.
When Hardwork Pays Off
The biggest advantage LurnQ has over other platforms is its simple user interface that everyone is familiar with. And secondly, they have tight integration with open learning ecosystem and social media. However, Tarun Mitra recalls that the biggest advantage they have is the ability of continuous innovation as it allows them to quickly launch new features and adapt to changes in the ecosystem. Currently they have over 30,000 users and 50% of the users come from outside India, where 18-24 year olds form the primary user base of LurnQ.
The Next Big Step
According to Tarun Mitra, LurnQ is more or less a complete product but they are still working on its mobile app to enhance the user experience on mobile devices. They are even looking up for more partnerships with education providers to provide more online learning options for the interested learners. The team wishes to build LurnQ as the core-learning tool that everyone will use for learning online.
In a nutshell, LurnQ is basically a community of curious people, spanning every discipline, campus, country and age. A platform for learning: a new venue for education that allows one to explore new ideas, thoughts and learn- but all the while keeping the social experience turned on.