👋 Welcome back! Hope you’ve been well…

From my desk: I’ve spent this past week with my family in Wisconsin. There I’ve gotten to enjoy Peppermint Chiffon Pie, our family classic card game (Hearts), and see my dog Bella. (Picture at the end)

Enough holiday banter, let's get on with this week's feature…

From the sunny shores of Queensland, this Australian company is boosting local students’ chances of getting into their dream college. Introducing…

“Our vision is to revolutionize the way students learn, inspiring a generation of critical thinkers and lifelong learners.” ATAR

🎬 Behind The Scenes

• Founders Isuka and Ryan are leading the way with a team of 13

• ATAR Saver started in 2022 and has helped 50+ students achieve their testing goals

• Faculty of ATAR Saver are academic weapons all with rankings in the top 10 percentile in Queensland

• Not seeking funding due to their type of business

🌍 Problem

To better understand what this company does and why it's important, It’s best to untangle our understanding of the ATAR ranking system. And no, it has nothing to do with video games.

ATAR 101

The ATAR, similar to the ACT and SAT in the states, is a percentile-based ranking system that is used in college admissions for students in Australia. It is usually based off of a student’s highest-scoring subject during their senior year in high school.

Problem

Students in Australia can struggle with getting their ideal score; With some parents even starting to prep their kids as early as second grade. 

This rank can make or break futures for students. So, parents are more willing to spend an extra buck or two to help seal the deal on helping their kid get into a desired program.

✅ ATAR’s Solution

As I said earlier, ATAR Saver is not hardware for your ATARI. Instead, it’s a tutoring program for students who hope to boost their odds of getting into their dream school during their final years of high school.

Their offerings…

1. Online accessible tutoring

   • Users choice between 11 different tutors at prices ranging from $45-$70/hr and between private or group sessions

2. Assignment editing 

   • Assignments are ~2,000-words in length and their assignment editor allows students to get feedback quickly

3. Extra resources

   • Discord community 

   • Customized assignment trackers/practice problems 

   • YouTube Channel

🚧 The Road Ahead

I think we all know this service is a great idea, and that’s the thing: A lot of people know it. Looking at the competition, there are a ton of alternatives that offer similar services…

• KIS Academics (Individual/group sessions, score forecasting, discounts for friends)

• ATAR Advantage (Tailored sessions, in-home tutoring, resource packs, flexible pricing)

• Clueylearning (33,000 users, exclusively online, for grades 2-12 with flexible pricing)

Given the crowded market, this company is prioritizing quality customer service while providing an alternative to the larger tutoring programs.

📈 Catalysts for ATAR Saver

Even though ATAR Saver doesn’t have an IPO on their horizon, they are still uniquely positioned to carve out a place in their niche. Several key areas contribute to their approach…

Relatable Staff

Many competitors fall short in having tutors who have, themselves, recently navigated the ATAR testing process with outstanding outcomes.

 With that being said, their tutors are only a few years older than the learners giving them the ability to provide more applicable and relatable advice for a better overall experience.

Quality > Quantity 

ATAR Saver is working with a smaller number of students. This gives them the advantage of closer quality control for their user experience. This is something that competitors often forget about when dealing with thousands of tutors and learners.

🔮 Path Moving Forward

Big things are coming ATAR Savers' way in 2024.

There are plans of creating online courses that students can follow which will be priced out on a monthly basis. 

This is paired with a large question bank that students can access 24/7 to refine their answering abilities. 

Lastly, they are aiming to help financially constrained students through free tutoring initiatives, raffles, and partnerships with local charities, broadening their service accessibility.

💡College Entrepreneur Insight

During my talk with Isuka, he mentioned two main takeaways from his experience running ATAR Saver… 

Uniqueness and Innovation: Ordinary strategies lead to ordinary results. 

Whether it’s to receive the highest ranking or achieve something great, Isuka stressed that doing unique things is key for outlier results. 

Diversify and Deliberate: Variety unlocks potential

Doing things differently also applies to how many things you do. Whether it's to receive the highest ATAR score or find your dream career, trying a bunch of different things is key to discovering your talents and interests.

📫 Glad you stopped by, we hope you enjoyed it!

👀 Join us next week as we explore how a group of students in Ireland are making a difference for women experiencing menopause.

Here is Bella, she’s three years old…