We’ve spent the last several years living and traveling across Southeast Asia. From the bustling streets of Bangkok to the quiet coastal towns of Vietnam and the islands of Indonesia, we’ve seen firsthand the incredible work ethic and hospitality that defines this region.
However, we also noticed a consistent barrier. We met countless guesthouse staff, tour guides, and street food vendors who had the skills and the drive to excel, but were held back by a lack of confidence in their English or other foreign languages. In the hospitality industry, communication isn't just a "nice-to-have" skill—it’s the difference between a minimum wage job and a career that can support a whole family.
Bridging the Economic Gap
When we looked at the existing language learning options, the problem was obvious. Most major apps and tutoring platforms are designed for Western salaries. Asking someone earning a local average income to pay $15 or $20 USD a month for a subscription is unrealistic. It’s not just expensive; for many, it’s impossible.
We realized that the people who need these skills the most were being priced out of the market. We didn’t want to build another premium tool for a small group of people who already have access to good education. We wanted to build something for the majority.
A Different Approach to Value
This is why our pricing is so low. We often get asked if the app is a "scam" or if the quality is lower because of the price. The truth is straightforward: our goal isn't to maximize the profit we make from a single user. We would much rather help 100,000 people improve their lives at a very low cost than sell an expensive course to only a few hundred.
We believe that high-quality education should be a tool for upward mobility, not a luxury. By keeping our overhead low and focusing on the specific vocabulary needed for local hospitality and service roles, we can offer a product that provides far more value than its price tag suggests.
Our mission is simple: to provide the hard-working people of Southeast Asia with the communication tools they need to succeed, at a price that actually makes sense for their daily lives. We’re here for the long term, living alongside the community we serve.
