Felix Ohswald, GoStudent: From Corona Winner to Sustainable Edtech Unicorn

About this episode

Felix Ohswald is one of the founders of GoStudent, a learning platform that connects students and teachers for online tutoring. At first glance, the company appears to be a classic pandemic winner – but reality is more complex.

The Apparent Corona Effect

The numbers speak volumes: GoStudent achieved unicorn valuation, hired more than 1,000 new employees, and expanded to over 20 countries. This explosive growth coincided with the pandemic, when millions of students suddenly depended on online solutions.

However, Felix Ohswald makes it clear: not everything can be attributed to the Corona effect. The foundations for success were laid well before the pandemic.

Why the Last Two Years Were So Successful

GoStudent's success is based on several factors that go beyond the pure pandemic boost:

Timing and Preparation: The company was already well-positioned before Corona and could quickly respond to changing needs.

Scalable Technology: The platform was designed for growth from the start and could handle the suddenly increasing demand.

Quality of Service: GoStudent focused not just on quantity but also on the quality of tutoring – a crucial factor for long-term customer retention.

The Challenges of Hypergrowth

With over 1,000 new employees in a short period, founders like Felix face enormous organizational challenges. Preserving company culture while expanding rapidly requires special attention and strategic approach.

International expansion to more than 20 countries brings additional complexity: different education systems, regulatory requirements, and cultural specificities must be considered.

Lessons Learned for Other Founders

Felix Ohswald's experiences offer valuable insights for other founders in the edtech space and beyond:

• –Sustainable growth is more important than short-term success
• –Proper preparation can make the difference between survival and breakthrough
• –Quality and customer focus remain essential even during growth phases

Outlook: After the Hype

The big question for GoStudent and similar companies is: what happens when the Corona effect wears off? Felix Ohswald's approach shows that sustainable success is built on more solid foundations than just external shocks.

GoStudent's experiences demonstrate that while successful startups can benefit from market changes, they are ultimately defined by their own performance and vision. For founders in similar situations, Felix Ohswald's journey provides important insights for their own path to sustainable business success.