On Programmable Podcast #4 I spoke with Mohit Midha, the founder of Hoogly, an Al platform building culture and belonging within remote teams.
Mohit successfully exited his first EdTech startup, Mangahigh, which makes math education fun through gamification.
We talked about the evolving job market, where certain fields stand out for their growth potential. Mohit highlighted the importance of focusing on Al and computer science. “If I was 16 or 18, I would study pure computer science,” he said.
We also talked about how to use gamification and connection to build engagement in education and the workplace. I asked Mohit for all his advice on how to succeed in a technical career.
This conversation was especially relevant to teachers, students and early-career programmers. Here’s a rundown of the key takeaway:
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Does education have to be boring?
One of the biggest issues Mangahigh solves is the struggle many students face in staying engaged with their studies.
“Children were feeling miserable learning mathematics,” Mohit says. “We combined the excitement of games with solving mathematical problems to keep students motivated and engaged.”
He remembers a conversation with a taxi driver in Singapore; her son was struggling to stay engaged at school and seemed to have attention issues. He asked her whether he had any trouble focusing on the iPad. Of course not!
For teachers, this means seeking out resources and tools that make learning fun and interactive. Whether it’s using apps that gamify studying or finding study groups that turn learning into a collaborative effort, the key is to find what keeps you engaged.
Loneliness is the biggest killer in America
Mohit cites research on how loneliness is an epidemic with profound impact on mental health: “Loneliness is the biggest killer in America, more than obesity, more than smoking 16 cigarettes a day,” he said.
For students, it’s crucial to make an effort to connect with peers. Whether through virtual study groups, participating in campus activities, or simply reaching out to classmates for coffee, these connections make a big difference.
Mohit and his team are building Hoogly to solve this same problem for remote teams in the workplace: as they say, “the world of work has changed, but people haven’t.”
Pick AI subjects
For those of us contemplating our academic and career paths, Mohit’s advice is clear: focus on AI and computer science. “I honestly, if I was 16 or 18, I was thinking of what I’m going to do next… I would have studied pure computer science,” he said.
A foundational education in computer science opens so many possibilities when it comes to working in AI.
If you’re currently studying or considering a major, think about integrating AI and computer science into your curriculum. These fields are in high demand and can take you across whichever industry you aspire to.
Getting an internship at a startup
If you’re dreaming of starting your own startup, Mohit’s advice is to get hands-on experience.
“The experience the students are going to get from a startup is going to be like nothing else they would get,” he said, and pursuing internships or jobs in startups will set you up with a unique environment where you can learn and grow rapidly.
If you’re looking to break into the startup world, start by identifying startups that align with your interests. Reach out to them, even if it means starting with an internship or volunteer work if the startup is not funded. The experience and connections you gain will be invaluable.
Mohit shared so many incredible stories about his time at Mangahigh and Hoogly, and how he’s grown from Computer Science graduate to multi-time founder. Listen to the whole episode to learn more from his story.
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If you’re not technical yourself, learning to communicate effectively with developers is crucial. Mohit recommends learning basic programming concepts to better understand technical constraints and possibilities.
3. Understand the importance of product-market fit
Unlike in consulting where you’re solving defined problems, in tech entrepreneurship you need to discover what problem you’re solving and for whom. This requires a different mindset and approach.
4. Be prepared for uncertainty
“In consulting and banking, you have clear career progression paths,” Mohit explains. “In startups, there’s much more uncertainty, but also much more potential upside.”
Building a remote-first company
Teached has been remote-first since inception, which Mohit believes gives them a competitive advantage in attracting talent and keeping costs low.
“Being remote-first allows us to hire the best talent regardless of location,” Mohit says. “It also means we can be more efficient with our capital since we don’t need expensive office space.”
The company uses tools like Slack, Zoom, and Notion to maintain effective communication and collaboration across team members in different time zones.
The future of edtech
Mohit sees several trends shaping the future of educational technology:
1. AI-powered personalization
AI will enable more personalized learning experiences, adapting content and pacing to individual student needs.
2. Micro-learning
Shorter, bite-sized learning modules that fit into busy schedules will become more popular.
3. Community-driven learning
Platforms that combine course content with community features will provide more engaging learning experiences.
4. Creator economy growth
More professionals will monetize their expertise through online courses and coaching, driving demand for creator-friendly platforms.
Key metrics for SaaS success
Mohit emphasizes several key metrics that SaaS entrepreneurs should track:
- Monthly Recurring Revenue (MRR): The lifeblood of any SaaS business
- Customer Acquisition Cost (CAC): How much it costs to acquire each new customer
- Lifetime Value (LTV): The total revenue a customer generates over their lifetime
- Churn rate: The percentage of customers who cancel their subscriptions
- Net Promoter Score (NPS): A measure of customer satisfaction and likelihood to recommend
“The most important thing is to have a healthy LTV to CAC ratio,” Mohit explains. “If you’re spending more to acquire customers than they’re worth, you don’t have a sustainable business.”
Fundraising and growth strategy
Teached has taken a bootstrap-first approach to growth, focusing on profitability and sustainable growth rather than raising large amounts of venture capital.
“We wanted to prove that we could build a profitable business before taking external funding,” Mohit says. This approach gave them more control over their company’s direction and allowed them to focus on customer needs rather than investor demands.
The company has since raised funding to accelerate growth, but only after establishing a strong foundation of paying customers and proven unit economics.
Building for educators vs. students
One interesting aspect of Teached’s business model is that they primarily serve educators (course creators) rather than students. This B2B2C model has several advantages:
- Higher lifetime value: Educators typically have higher willingness to pay than individual students
- Better retention: Course creators have ongoing needs for the platform
- Network effects: Successful creators attract more creators to the platform
“We realized early on that focusing on the creator side of the marketplace was the right strategy,” Mohit explains. “Happy creators lead to happy students.”
The role of content marketing
Content marketing has been crucial to Teached’s growth strategy. The company regularly publishes guides, case studies, and educational content for course creators.
“We don’t just sell a product, we educate our customers on how to be successful online course creators,” Mohit says. This approach builds trust and positions Teached as a partner rather than just a vendor.
Looking ahead
As Teached continues to grow, Mohit is focused on expanding the platform’s capabilities while maintaining its core simplicity. Future developments include enhanced analytics for creators, better mobile experiences, and integration with more third-party tools.
“Our goal is to become the go-to platform for anyone who wants to monetize their expertise online,” Mohit concludes.
For finance and consulting professionals considering a transition to tech entrepreneurship, Mohit’s journey provides a valuable blueprint: leverage your existing skills, validate your ideas thoroughly, focus on customer needs, and be prepared for the unique challenges and opportunities that come with building a technology company.
Links
Teached - The world’s simplest course platform
Mohit Midha on LinkedIn
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