Joining our roster of women entrepreneurs to watch is Audrey Nakad, the founder of Ostaz. Audrey is a shining example of an emerging entrepreneur making waves in the edtech space.

Audrey, who comes from an entrepreneurial family, has always been driven to make an impact in the world, and education is a particularly meaningful area for her, as she believes it is the best weapon for empowering individuals and communities.

The idea for Ostaz (formerly known as Synkers) came about when Audrey's co-founder, Sibylle, was studying in Canada. She struggled to find qualified tutors who could accommodate her learning needs and budget. She spent a lot of time and money trying to find the right tutor, but once she found one, it was impossible to fit in his schedule. Similarly, Audrey was also having a hard time finding students she could actually tutor. It was then that they both realized that this problem was very common among learners and tutors alike.

Together, Audrey and Sibylle launched Ostaz to address this problem and saw an immediate demand, particularly from parents searching for qualified, vetted, and affordable private tutors for their children. Within a year, they acquired 3,000 students and have since helped over 60,000 learners achieve their educational goals through personalized learning journeys.

Ostaz has been able to help students achieve better grades and educational outcomes, which can have a positive impact on their future opportunities and career prospects. Ostaz is also able to create thousands of job opportunities for tutors, many of whom are able to find flexible and well-paying work through the platform, which can help them to improve their financial stability and overall quality of life.

While the impact is undeniable, Audrey has still faced a number of challenges along the way. "One of the biggest challenges has been securing funding, as research shows that women-owned businesses receive less funding than their male counterparts. Additionally, I have also faced gender biases and stereotypes in the industry, where investors and partners tend to overlook or undervalue the potential of," said Audrey about her experience as a woman entrepreneur.

Despite any setbacks, Audrey has persisted to ensure the success of Ostaz. As one of the participants in the Seedstars Program at HUB71, Audrey was also able to receive resources and support tailored to the problems she was facing at the time. “Through this program, I was able to connect with a network of successful female entrepreneurs, VCs, and mentors who had already navigated the fundraising process and were able to provide valuable guidance and advice,” Audrey said.

“One of the most valuable aspects of the program was the opportunity to pitch to a group of venture capitalists and angel investors. This allowed me to practice my pitch and receive feedback from experienced investors. Additionally, the program also introduced me to a number of VCs that would be interested in our venture.”

Overall, Audrey's entrepreneurial journey with Ostaz is a testament to the power of perseverance and the potential of women entrepreneurs to achieve success in the tech industry. She is dedicated to making a positive impact on the lives of learners and educators and her journey is an inspiration to others.

For more information about HUB71, visit the program page here. Learn more about Ostaz here.