I've worked with dozens of EdTech founders over the past few years, and the same three mistakes show up almost every time.

1. Building the platform before validating the curriculum.

Most founders spend 6+ months (and $50K+) building a fancy LMS before they've proven anyone will pay for what they're teaching. Start with a Google Doc, a Zoom call, and 5 paying beta students. If you can't sell it manually, software won't save you.

2. Targeting "students" instead of a specific pain point.

"We help people learn" is not a positioning statement. The best EdTech companies solve one specific problem for one specific group. "We help mid-career professionals pass the PMP certification in 8 weeks" — that's a business.

3. Ignoring retention metrics.

Completion rates, engagement scores, learning outcomes — these are your real KPIs, not just signups. An EdTech product with 10% completion is a content dump, not a business. Build feedback loops from day one.

If you're building in EdTech and want to pressure-test your approach, I do 1-on-1 consulting sessions where we go deep on your specific situation. Happy to help.