1. Pick one learner and one payer
Choose a narrow segment before you write questions, for example parents of 8th graders struggling with algebra, or adult learners prepping for the CompTIA A+ exam. Write down who uses the tutor and who pays for it. If they are different people, you need to interview both.
2. Find parents where they already complain
Search Facebook for your town plus "parents" or "homeschool" groups, and read r/Parenting and r/homeschool for posts about tutoring costs or homework fights. Reply helpfully first, then message the poster directly. Example: "Saw your post about math homework battles. I'm building a study tool and would love 15 minutes to hear how you handle it now. No pitch."
3. Reach students and adult learners directly
For high school and college students, look at r/HomeworkHelp, r/APStudents, r/learnmath and subject Discord servers. For adult learners, try r/GMAT, r/CompTIA or r/learnprogramming. Ask moderators before posting a request, and offer a small thank you like a free month once you launch.
4. Talk to the people who see the problem daily
Message private tutors on Wyzant or Varsity Tutors, plus math teachers, learning specialists and school counselors on LinkedIn. They see hundreds of struggling students and know what parents pay. Example search on LinkedIn: "math teacher" plus your county, then send a short note asking for 15 minutes on what students get stuck on.
5. Ask about the past, not your idea
Good questions: "Tell me about the last time your kid got stuck on homework. What happened next?" "What have you tried, tutors, Khan Academy, ChatGPT?" "What did you pay, and was it worth it?" "What made you stop using the last thing you tried?" Avoid "Would you use an AI tutor?" because everyone says yes.
6. Dig into trust and safety
Parents and teachers worry about cheating, wrong answers and screen time. Ask: "How would you know it is helping and not just giving answers?" and "What would make you stop letting your child use it?" Their answers tell you what to build and what to put on your landing page.
7. Test willingness to pay before you hang up
End by asking what they spend now on tutoring, apps or test prep. Then offer something real: "I'm opening a paid pilot at $20 a month for 10 families. Want a spot?" A yes with a card number is signal. A polite maybe is not.
8. Log every call and repeat weekly
After each call, write the exact phrases people used, what they pay now and whether they agreed to a next step. Aim for 5 calls a week until the same problems keep coming up. Hulby, an AI cofounder, can find these conversations and draft the outreach for you every day.
Mistakes to skip
- Interviewing only students and never the parent or school that pays.
- Pitching the product in the first five minutes instead of listening.
- Asking hypothetical questions like "would you pay for this?"
- Ignoring parents' fears about cheating, accuracy and safety.
Want this done for your AI tutor, every day?
Hulby finds the people asking for what you built, writes every reply and email, and keeps you on it until they pay. Free to start.
Find my first customersQuestions
How many interviews do I need?
Start with 10 to 15 in one segment. Stop when you hear the same problems repeated and can predict the answers.
Can I interview minors?
Talk to the parent first and get their permission. It is often simpler to interview the parent with the student present.
Should I show a demo during the interview?
Not until the end. Learn how they solve the problem today first, then show it to see their reaction.
What if nobody replies to my messages?
Make the ask smaller and more specific, mention the exact post or situation, and send more. Expect a low reply rate and keep going.