Cognition.online launches tutor booking, paying platform for students

Edutech startup Cognition.online, which facilitates the booking and paying of tutor services in SA, has gone live. Cognition.online was also announced as the winner of the Samsung Launching People – Mixed Talents competition.

“It allows parents and students to find tutors in their area by subject specialisation, book lesson times and pay easily. Tutors can accept bookings via the app and receive their payment from Cognition.Online. Parents and tutors are free to negotiate fees and both tutors and pupils can be rated by the system,” says the director of brand and marketing & communications at Samsung South Africa, Michelle Potgieter, in a press release to Ventureburn.

Kyle Dodds, co-founder of the startup, says while studying at the University of Pretoria, he experienced frustrations as a tutor.

“As an engineering student, I tutored Maths and demand grew to a point where I took on other tutors to assist. The pool of tutors grew and administration of the bookings and payments became a challenge,” says Dodds.

Development of the system began in 2015 and launched in Pretoria. It is recruiting tutors in Johannesburg and will soon expand to other major cities.

“The Samsung Launching People – Mixed Talents challenge is now in its second year and is supported by Samsung South Africa in line with our focus on creating continuous innovation as well as supporting new business development in our communities,” concludes Potgieter.

Cognition.online will be extending its functionality to support disadvantaged learners with subsidised tutoring.