Why we built Maia
The best way to learn something has always been the same: sit across from someone who knows it well, and have a conversation. They explain, you try, they correct, you try again. A great tutor doesn't just deliver information — they figure out what you don't understand and find the question that makes it click.
That's always been expensive. A private tutor costs $50–150 an hour. Most people can't afford one. So they're left with apps that quiz you on flashcards, YouTube playlists that go nowhere, and AI chatbots that answer questions but don't actually teach.
Maia is what happens when you combine the structure of a real course with the responsiveness of a private tutor. It designs a curriculum around you, teaches it through conversation, generates supporting material — podcasts, exercises, readings — and remembers what you know and what you don't across every session.
It works for languages, but also for anything else: music theory, data science, philosophy, cooking technique, whatever you want to get better at. We think everyone deserves access to a patient, knowledgeable tutor. Now they have one.
What we believe
- —A tutor that asks the right question is worth more than one that gives the right answer.
- —Structure matters. A conversation is not a course unless it's going somewhere.
- —You learn by doing, not by watching. Every lesson should make you think, practice, and produce.
- —Spaced repetition works. We use it everywhere.
- —You're an adult. You don't need streaks, gems, or cartoon owls. You need a tutor that respects your time.