Pollenizer lauds potential of latest start-up Coachy.com

Australian tech incubator Pollenizer has unveiled its latest start-up in the form of Coachy.com, an online marketplace for people wanting to learn new skills via video sessions.

Coachy, founded by Luke Grana, enables people to learn skills via one-on-one video sessions with coaches. It is aimed at people who don’t always have time to attend physical classes.

Grana developed the Coachy platform alongside Pollenizer, after approaching the incubator with his idea.

“We worked together to refine the idea to what had the most potential… Once we started in December, there were four weeks of brutal testing,” Pollenizer co-founder Mick Liubinskas says.

Last year saw the launch of a similar Australian start-up named WeTeachMe, which centres around a website that advertises classes for a range of skills such as martial arts and baking.

Liubinskas says while WeTeachMe is heavily focused on users attending physical classes, Coachy only offers online video coaching, designed to make it easier for people to learn a skill.

“We’re helping coaches reach a broader market, particularly where video-based coaching adds significant value,” he says.

“For example, if I was coaching you on being a journalist, I could do that over the phone. But for art, guitar or even French lessons, being able to look at the person adds significant value.”

Coachy currently only has two coaches – for French and guitar lessons – but is looking for others to add to the mix.

“It’s early days, but we believe there is an opportunity for a video coaching marketplace globally. A big part [of Coachy] is helping coaches make a better business,” Liubinskas says.

“It’s hard to get to a French class quickly. You can jump on Coachy [and access lessons easily].”

Liubinskas doesn’t believe Coachy will be the next Spreets, likening it to Dealised instead.

“Coachy is different [to Spreets] – it’s a bit more global. Coachy could be the next Dealised. It will start in Australia and then go global,” he says.