By Layan Damanhouri
Saudi Gazette
Learning a hobby has just been made easier for people living here by using a website that links them to skilled pros.
What used to be a hassle to find someone to teach Turkish or basics in piano are now simplified in a network online that lists a directory of lessons and profiles of instructors.
Suplift, launched earlier this year, is a startup founded by Saudi entrepreneur Fadi Yahya who wants to offer a chance for people to learn a leisure activity while making friends in a community.
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Fadi Yahya, founder of Suplift[/caption]
“The idea of Suplift is to have a good time by learning something new and find other people in your city with common interests,” he said in an interview with Saudi Gazette. “Our slogan is to never learn alone. Even though you can learn a skill through online tutorials, it can be hard and frustrating at times.”
He further says, “Learning a new hobby shouldn’t feel like a chore. We focus on leisure skills, fun activities and things to improve one’s quality of life. The goal is to enjoy doing it for fun, not to professionally compete in the Olympics.”
After meeting friends and acquaintances who have a knack for making latte art or talented in playing music, Fadi decided to build the startup in Jeddah and invite more people to dedicate time to share their knowledge for a fee.
Diya Azzony is a musician and professional voice over artist. He offers beginner and advanced guitar lessons and voice-over acting on his own but he recently joined Suplift. He says, “I use it as a platform to communicate with people. It’s more organized, professional and easier for the coach as well as the student.”
He adds, “Hobbies are important because it’s the only form of leisure and entertainment for people in Saudi Arabia.”
A range of hobbies is offered such as roller-skating, tai chi, and arts and crafts. Other life skills are also welcomed like teaching how to write an email or a blog.
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Piano teacher Rawan Aldrees[/caption]
More classes are expected to be introduced including barbecue grilling, baking and exotic languages.
Shaima Malaikah is a scuba diving instructor who was one of the first to join Suplift. “The website introduced me to society,” she says. “As an instructor, it’s easier for me because the logistic aspects such as payment, managing the courses and packages are taken care of.”
She adds, “I think this platform will be useful because it’s very difficult to find instructors for leisure activities here. It’s usually by word-of-mouth or asking around a lot.”
Twenty so-called suplifters, or coaches, are listed on the website. Despite the company still starting out, about a hundred are already waiting to be screened to go public.
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Khaled Al-Faydi, trainer of baristas[/caption]
There are no limits on age, background, or level in a skill. University student Rawan Aldrees learned the piano on her own through online tutorials after she couldn’t find any instructors in Jeddah. She now teaches beginner piano to small groups on weekends. “Unlike learning an instrument alone, classes offer motivation and commitment for students,” she says. “It’s also a valuable experience for coaches to learn communication skills.”
When asked about the challenges in creating Suplift, Fadi says figuring out how to meet the needs of the consumers in a business and making sure supply meets a certain demand. He says he witnessed growing support for entrepreneurship in the Kingdom the last few years.
Typical skills such as taking up a new language, learning musical instruments are not in a traditional classroom environment. “The chance to be close to a master or a skilled person is something valuable,” says Fadi. “That person will have a technique different from the spoon-feeding found in formal classes. Suplift is about sharing back and forth rather than instructing students what to do.”
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Hossam Jameel coaching tai chi[/caption]
Although the startup initiated in Jeddah, it plans to expand globally to bigger cities in the region and soon in Europe. It also plans to add more social features and ratings for profiles.
“It’s an opportunity for people with talents to create a source of income while enjoying their work,” he adds. “We don’t have as much chefs and musicians as other countries do. So if I can support people to be financially stable and pursue their passion full-time, that’s something we will aim in the next five years.”
Suplift is first of its kind in Saudi Arabia and has no direct competition although it has similar features as other ticketing websites and community networks.
