From Building Apps to Building a German School

00:02:26:39

A Year of Realizations

It's almost the end of the year, and I've been reflecting on my journey. After building Orbit and Chill, spending countless hours creating TikTok content, and struggling with monetization strategies, I've come to an important realization: sometimes the best opportunities are right in front of us.

I started teaching German, and something clicked. This is where technology meets a clear, straightforward business model. This is where I can make a real impact.

The Testmanship Regret

Looking back at Testmanship, I realize I gave up too early. I had built something with real potential - a platform that could genuinely help people learn German. But instead of pushing through and making it more intelligent, more engaging, I moved on to the next shiny project.

I should have used my creativity and technical capabilities to evolve Testmanship into something extraordinary. The foundation was there: spaced-repetition flashcards, writing exercises, teacher dashboards. I just needed to believe in it more.

Lessons from Orbit and Chill

Marketing Orbit and Chill taught me valuable lessons, even if monetization remained elusive. I learned:

How to create engaging content on TikTok
How to grow a following organically
How to explain complex concepts in simple, relatable ways
The importance of consistent content creation

These skills weren't wasted - they were preparation for what comes next.

The New Vision: A German School Powered by Technology

Now I'm combining everything I've learned:

Technical Skills: Building robust web platforms with Next.js, TypeScript, and Firebase
Content Creation: Creating engaging educational content for TikTok and other platforms
Teaching Experience: Understanding what students actually need to succeed
Testmanship Platform: A ready-made foundation that just needs evolution

I'm not just building an app anymore. I'm building a school - a comprehensive German learning experience where technology amplifies teaching rather than replacing it.

What's Different This Time

This time, I have clarity:

Clear Monetization: Teaching has a straightforward business model - students pay for quality education
Market Knowledge: I understand the gaps in language learning that tools like Duolingo can't fill
Marketing Skills: I know how to reach and engage potential students through content
Technical Foundation: Testmanship Web V2 is already built and ready to evolve

I'm not starting from scratch. I'm building on everything I've learned, everything I've built, and everything I've experienced.

Moving Forward

The plan is simple but ambitious:

Evolve Testmanship into a more intelligent, more engaging platform
Create consistent, valuable content showing the learning process
Build a community of German learners who support each other
Use technology to make personalized learning accessible

I should have done this earlier. I should have believed in Testmanship more. But sometimes we need to explore the wrong paths to truly appreciate the right one.

This time, I'm not giving up. This time, I'm combining passion with practicality, creativity with business sense, and technology with human connection.