7 Lessons from Divesh Shah on Building a Global Tutoring Business
How do you build a tutoring business from the ground up and find success in today’s competitive digital landscape? What do you need to do to give the best to your students and scale your bottomline, too? CEO of Math Vision and intrepid teacher Divesh Shah let us in on his inside track recently on The Dream Catchers Show
In today’s competitive tutoring landscape, where student expectations are sky-high, and the market is crowded, building a successful business isn’t just a challenge — it’s a battleground.
But Divesh Shah, founder of Math Vision, didn’t just survive the competition; he transformed a one-student tutoring gig into a global empire with over 20,000 students across 34 countries. His journey is a masterclass in resilience, innovation, and intelligent business strategies.
What makes Divesh’s story even more compelling is how he bounced back from failure, applied hard-earned lessons, and crafted a path from the ground up. His approach offers actionable insights for anyone aspiring to turn their educational venture into a thriving, scalable business.
Based on his experiences shared on The Dream Catchers Show, we’ll break down seven key lessons that contributed to Divesh’s meteoric rise to success. Whether you’re starting out or looking to scale your tutoring business, these insights will help guide your next steps.
1. Start Small, Earn Big Trust
“I was very clear that this time, I am not going to expand. I’m just going to go very slow. And the primary duty was to ensure every child is very well looked after.”
Every successful business starts with a small, bold move, and for Divesh, that move came in the form of a single student.
When Divesh relocated to Singapore in 2007, he had no formal degree, no established network, and no grand plan — just an unwavering belief in his ability to teach. Armed with confidence and a passion for education, he started with one student and built something extraordinary from there.
“I started with just one student… and then the next two, three days, I had onboarded another child who was five years old,” Divesh recalls. His laser focus on delivering high-quality, personalized education laid the groundwork for what would become Math Vision. He turned his humble tutoring business into a trusted brand by offering each student individualized attention.
With no need for aggressive marketing, Divesh grew his client base organically through word-of-mouth — letting satisfied students and parents do the advertising for him.
Take These Lessons
- Prioritize quality over enrolling more students, especially when starting out.
- Trust takes time — consistent, personalized tutoring builds a strong foundation.
- Your first students and parents are your best promoters; exceed their expectations, and they’ll spread the word for you.
2. Shake Up the Classroom: Innovate Your Teaching Methods
In a world where parents and students are bombarded with educational options, standing out isn’t just a nice-to-have — it’s essential. Divesh knew that to attract attention in a crowded market, he needed to offer something more than just traditional tutoring.
His game-changing solution? Math shows — live, interactive performances that transformed math lessons into entertaining events. “I did around 400 shows… it was called “The Math Show”. We would teach them all the shortcuts and tricks of math,” Divesh shares.
These innovative shows made mathematics engaging, fun, and accessible to students of all ages.
“You will be surprised. The first show itself had 200 people. And the next show had 400, 500 people. And then, you know, I did around 300 shows.”
By combining education with entertainment, Divesh created a unique experience that left a lasting impression. He also tapped into Vedic math, an ancient system renowned for its speed and simplicity, to give students quick, practical techniques for solving complex problems.
Take These Lessons
- Innovation is your secret weapon — don’t be afraid to break away from traditional teaching methods.
- Creativity keeps students engaged; so, make learning memorable with fresh approaches.
- Offering specialized, unique value propositions, such as Vedic math, can set you apart in a competitive market.
3. Embrace Failure, Learn Fast
Every entrepreneur hits bumps in the road, but it’s how you handle failure that defines your future success.
For Divesh, the collapse of his first tutoring business in India was a hard lesson in overextension. Rapid expansion and poor team management led to the downfall of what was once a thriving operation.
“My business literally collapsed… we went from 3,000 students to 200–300 students.”
It was a painful setback, but he used this failure as a learning opportunity rather than throwing in the towel. Instead of letting the failure define him, Divesh took a step back, analyzed what went wrong, and vowed not to repeat the same mistakes.
He learned the value of sustainable growth and the need to focus on quality over sheer numbers. He applied these lessons to his next venture, Math Vision, building a stronger, more resilient business, proving that the best businesses are born from lessons learned in failure.
Take These Lessons
- Failure is a chance to regroup, rethink, and emerge stronger.
- Identify the root causes of setbacks and use those lessons to create a more robust strategy.
- Scaling isn’t about increasing student numbers alone — steady, intentional growth is the key to long-term success
4. Build a Dream Team: Empower, Train, and Scale
“I personally trained each teacher so they could duplicate the teaching methods I use.”
As Math Vision grew, Divesh quickly realized that no one builds a thriving business alone. Scaling required more than just hiring people — it meant assembling a team that could uphold the same standards that Math Vision was built on.
But Divesh didn’t just look for qualifications; he ensured each teacher was trained to mirror his unique teaching methods, creating consistency across the board.
This hands-on approach allowed him to maintain the high standard of service that his students and parents expected. By mentoring his team and embedding the Math Vision ethos into every aspect of their work, Divesh could scale without losing the quality and personal touch that had set his business apart from the beginning.
Take These Lessons
- Your team should be an extension of your business values — train and mentor them to share your vision.
- Invest in building a skilled and aligned team to maintain the quality of your tutoring services even as you expand.
- Consistency is key — clear communication and shared expectations across your staff ensure your business scales without losing its identity.
5. Go Global with Tech: Expand Beyond Borders
In today’s connected world, technology isn’t just an add-on — it’s a game-changer, especially for businesses looking to scale.
For Divesh, it was the key to turning Math Vision into a global brand. When his students began moving abroad, they didn’t want to leave the high-quality tutoring behind. “Parents would say, ‘Mr. Shah, can you teach them online?’ That’s how we got into these 34 countries,” Divesh explains.
Instead of seeing distance as a barrier, Divesh seized the opportunity to take his tutoring business online, using platforms like Zoom and Skype to deliver lessons across borders.
“We were teaching like this not because we wanted to expand but because the parents were saying that my child has changed countries, but they still want to continue with Math Vision.”
By embracing technology, the team maintained relationships with students regardless of where they lived. This shift not only allowed Math Vision to expand its reach but also eliminated the need for physical tutoring centers — opening up new markets without the traditional overhead.
Take These Lessons
- You must harness the power of technology to break geographic boundaries and grow your tutoring business.
- Online platforms enable you to retain students, no matter where they relocate, ensuring seamless continuity in your services.
- Think globally — don’t confine your business to local limitations; technology offers a world of opportunities.
6. Slow and Steady Wins: The Art of Sustainable Growth
In business, the temptation to expand quickly can be hard to resist — but Divesh knows firsthand that rapid growth isn’t always the right move.
After his first tutoring venture in India crumbled due to overexpansion, Divesh embraced a different approach with Math Vision: sustainable growth. He carefully controlled the pace of his business, ensuring that his team could manage the workload without sacrificing quality.
“We capped the number of students at 4,000. It was about maintaining quality.”
Rather than chasing immediate gains, Divesh prioritized providing each student with personalized attention, knowing that in the long run, quality trumps quantity. By growing steadily, he built a business that could thrive for the long haul — without burning out his team or compromising the experience for his students.
Take These Lessons
- Prioritize quality over rapid expansion; slow, sustainable growth leads to long-term success.
- Know your team’s limits — overloading students can reduce personalized attention and strain tutors.
- Focus on creating a strong foundation of teaching excellence before taking on significant growth initiatives.
7. Place Student Success Over Sales to Thrive
In a world where many businesses chase profits, Divesh took a different approach with Math Vision — one focused on student success over financial gain.
His priority wasn’t how many students he could enroll but how well each one performed. By building solid relationships with parents, providing regular feedback, and addressing any issues promptly, Divesh ensured that Math Vision wasn’t just another tutoring service — it became a trusted partner in each student’s academic journey.
“I tell my teachers, we don’t want to make the business better; we want to make the students better.”
This dedication to student outcomes fostered deep loyalty among both parents and students, driving growth through trust and long-term relationships rather than quick profits.
Take These Lessons
- Prioritize your students’ success — financial growth will follow naturally.
- Maintain open, transparent communication with parents and students to build trust and loyalty.
- Focus on delivering value rather than chasing profits for a sustainable, rewarding business model.
So, ready to apply these lessons to your business?
Whether you’re just getting started or aiming to scale your business, Divesh’s path from a small-time tutor to the founder of a global tutoring empire highlights a clear blueprint for success.
By focusing on quality from day one, embracing innovation, learning from mistakes, building a team that shares your vision, leveraging technology to expand, and growing organically and sustainably — all while prioritizing your clients’ success — you can build a tutoring or coaching brand grounded in trust and excellence.
So, take action today, and find your way to success!
