Tutlo’s rise from zero

At 24, Damian Strzelczyk and a friend launched Tutlo without capital, product, or team—just an idea. Today, the online English-learning platform earns PLN 200 million annually, with 4,000 instructors and 70,000 active students.

Frustrated by rigid lesson schedules, Strzelczyk envisioned on-demand language courses. They built a basic website in a day and pre-sold lessons at half price, attracting early customers before the product existed. Despite initial investor skepticism and near closure, selling long-term contracts solidified their business model.

Tutlo has since expanded, delivering over a million lesson hours yearly and growing a nearly 400-strong team. Attempts to enter Spain failed due to low customer engagement, but focus has shifted to Romania, Hungary, and the Czech Republic. Strzelczyk sees AI as a teacher’s aid, not a replacement, emphasizing personal motivation.

His advice: with hard work, commitment, and luck, success is possible.