From Supermarket Flyers to a Statewide Platform: Three Years Building MyClass

Three years ago, I started MyClass to make quality tutoring both accessible and affordable.

It began as a side project helping a few classmates. Today, it connects hundreds of students with tutors who know the ATAR journey firsthand.

1. Why I Started

In high school, finding a good tutor was messy — word of mouth, Facebook groups, and flyers on noticeboards.

I believed there could be a simpler, more transparent way to match students with the right mentor.

So I built one.

2. The Technical Journey

- Backend: Node.js + Express

- Database: PostgreSQL

- Frontend: React + Material UI

- Infrastructure: From shared hosting → AWS as usage grew

I over-engineered v1. That “mistake” became my teacher — architecture, schema design, testing pipelines, and cost optimisation all grew from that experience.

3. What Scaled and What Broke

Scheduling complexity

Coordinating tutors and families across time zones outgrew spreadsheets. I built an automated scheduler with conflict detection and smart reminders.

Payments and payouts

Secure payments, refunds, and tutor payouts required full reconciliation. Audit logs, dashboards, and alerts became essential.

Quality control

We launched a transparent rating system, periodic reviews, and lightweight coaching — enough structure to keep quality high without burying tutors in admin.

4. The Business Engine

Acquisition

Early growth came from word of mouth and targeted social campaigns. Tracking CAC against referral rates kept spending disciplined.

Retention

Onboarding flows, feedback loops, and re-engagement campaigns reduced churn and boosted repeat bookings.

Unit economics

Margins improved as automation reduced manual support. Tutor pay, pricing, and fees were fine-tuned for sustainability.

5. Timeline Highlights

- Year 1 — 2022: Flyers and phone calls to recruit the first tutors. Personal referrals validated the model.

- Year 2 — 2023: Structured onboarding, online scheduling, and flexible formats expanded reach across Perth.

- Year 3 — 2024–2025: Launch of our in-house Tutor Management System (TMS) and broader subject coverage statewide.

6. MyClass Today (Snapshot)

- 100+ students supported across Western Australia

- 95+ average ATAR among our tutor cohort

- 4.9/5 average customer rating

Metrics are internal platform figures as of Aug 2025.

7. What I Learned

1. Start small, iterate fast. MVP → feedback → refine.

2. Automate everything repeatable. Scheduling, payments, reporting.

3. People > features. Great tutors and authentic relationships drive success.

4. Focus and delegate. Scaling meant trusting others with operations.

8. A Note of Thanks

To our Tutors, Families, and Friends — thank you for trusting us.

In 2022 it was just me and an Excel sheet. Three years later, we have a statewide platform, robust feedback systems, and a growing community.

I’m proud of a team that leads with empathy, discipline, and care.

9. What’s Next

- Enhanced Tutor Management System analytics

- New ATAR exam workshops and learning resources

- Stronger school partnerships while keeping our personal touch

If you’re a parent seeking academic support or a tutor passionate about teaching — I’d love to hear from you.

— Josh Wong, Founder & Manager, MyClass