Ask HN: E-Learning Startup

Re:Ask HN: E-Learning Startup by goodgoblin on Monday March 02, 2009 @04:37PM (#500652)

One thing to keep in mind - educational markets are like enterprise markets - very difficult to sell to. Products don't generally catch on and spread virally there - you'll need a salesforce. The decision makers aren't the users of the product, but its administrators.

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Re:Ask HN: E-Learning Startup by snprbob86 on Tuesday March 03, 2009 @02:11AM (#501159)

We heard similar feedback from pg and team after our interview. We think we have a fighting chance, so we are still hacking... http://www.classlet.com/

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Re:Ask HN: E-Learning Startup by zxcvb on Monday March 02, 2009 @04:46PM (#500656)

Yeah, I can't really think of a way to break into the market. That could just be because I'm not in marketing?

I just have a picture in my mind, cold calling university administrators, it just wouldn't work.

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Re:Ask HN: E-Learning Startup by goodgoblin on Monday March 02, 2009 @05:01PM (#500669)

Cold calling will work, to some extent, but there are just so many decision makers involved, and they in turn have to get buy in from so many teachers, administrators, etc, that each sale just takes a long time.

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Re:Ask HN: E-Learning Startup by trapper on Tuesday March 03, 2009 @07:45AM (#501356)

Agreed. You will have sales cycles of > 1 year, with references, demonstrations, visits, proof of concept delivery, tenders etc etc..

It's hell.

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