Novakid is Teaching Children Around the World How to Speak English

As a child, Maxim Azarov loved computers. While other kids were out playing with their friends in the playground, Azarov would be at home learning about all the different things he could do on his mechanical device.

As he grew up, Azarov’s passion for computers and technology never ceased. He graduated with a master’s degree from the Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology and a PhD from the Central Aerology Observatory of Russia, and began working as a software developer.

Unsurprisingly, when he struggled to find a qualified native English speaking teacher for his son, he turned to technology for the solution. He decided to build Novakid, a virtual English learning platform for children between the ages of four and 12. The company is on a mission to use AI and VR to create personalized learning experiences for children around the world.

Since its inception in December 2017, Novakid has raised a total of $41.5 million in funding. Most recently in August, the startup closed a $35 million Series B led by Goodwater Capital and Owl Ventures.

The Org spoke with Azarov to learn more about how he grew Novakid and the decisions he made along the way that helped him scale his business.

Getting the idea off the ground

Like many startups, Azarov tapped into his existing network for his first hires. He had previously started a software consulting firm and decided to hire a few engineers from his previous project to help with getting Novakid off the ground.

“It began growing really quickly, and since then some of the folks who helped build Novakid stayed and others moved to a new company,” Azarov said.

To really scale his business, Azarov needed to sell his idea to investors who could provide financial support. He focused on reaching out to investors who were interested in the ed-tech space to gauge interest.

“My advice is to make sure when you go to a meeting with an investor to allocate at least five minutes for feedback and listen to it, ” Azarov said. “Then six months down the road when you reach out to them again, provide meaningful updates about the company so that you show you are a person of your word.”

Scaling and growing a remote company

From its inception, Azarov wanted Novakid to operate remotely. He saw a lot of benefits to remote work, especially when it came to hiring the right talent for Novakid.

“As a founder, the biggest thing is to not try to do everything by yourself, but actually finding the people who you trust to do the right things, with remote work you can save a lot of time and cast a wider net when hiring,” Azarov said. “I think it’s our competitive advantage, we don’t limit ourselves to one location, it allows us to be a lot more nimble and forces us to focus on overall results.”

Azarov also noted how remote work reduces and limits workplace politics and helps employees focus on achieving goals rather than developing stronger interpersonal relationships with their colleagues.

“Of course it doesn’t happen magically, it’s important to be transparent with your colleagues,” Azarov said.

Founder Files Q&A:

What is something you would have done differently at the start of your business?

It’s really difficult to say because sometimes you just happen to be at the right place at the right time. So my real honest answer is I probably wouldn’t change anything. Though one thing that really stuck with me is that fundraising should really be a full-time job and you should start it well, well ahead of time, before you actually need the money. Without a proven product-market fit, it might take you 12 to 18 months to find the right investor who really believes in you and your team and commit to the capital, so you should start making connections really early on.

What does a day in your life look like?

Nowadays it’s mostly focused on hiring the right people and that we don’t have gaps in our talent in our skillset as a company.

If you were in any other role at your company, what would you be and why?

Probably product. I think it relates to the fact that many people who start a business, just as in my case, see it as an extension of their hobby or their passion, something that they think is broken and needs to be fixed. That’s why I would say product.