Today we’d like to introduce you to Tomas Bisi.

Hi Tomas, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
I was born in Buenos Aires, Argentina and moved to USA in 2014 working as a professional sailor. Since a young age I have been competing and coaching teams internationally, which one was the USA Team. However, in 2016 I decided to pursue a new career in Tech and relocated to San Francisco to study a Master’s degree in Computer Science.

After completing the master’s I’ve worked as a software developer for multiple Tech companies, before being promoted to Product Manager. In 2020 co-founded my own company, HOKALI, which I’m CTO, lead the Growth and Product team. HOKALI was part of the Y-Combinator Winter 2022 batch.

Initially the business model was a sports lessons marketplace B2C membership where people were able to easily find coaches and book lessons with them with a great user experience. We scaled this model in San Francisco, Los Angeles, San Diego, Hawaii and Florida.Last year we made a pivot the business to an EdTech B2B model with school directors being the main point of sale having the ability to create Sports, Music, Arts, STEM and enrichment programs through our software platform and matching with our supply of instructors and acadamies.

Today I’m proud to say that we have reached Product Market Fit as we found a big pain point for these type of activities in the Education market. How did we get to this pivot? Analyzing KPI’s and talking to our users. We were targeting both adults and kids, but kids metrics were up in the roof, where adults had major churn rates and higher CACs. Trying to reach out for big pools of parents we started to talk to school directors, a huge ocean opened here. Currently operating in San Francisco Bay and Los Angeles Area and with the Product Market Fit and great leadership team we are getting ready to scale.

In conclusion, our journey at HOKALI demonstrates the importance of listening to our users, analyzing data, and being willing to pivot when necessary. With our innovative platform, we aim to revolutionize the way schools offer enrichment programs and provide high-quality experiences for students.

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
throughout my journey, I have faced numerous challenges that have shaped my path and strengthened my resolve. Moving from Buenos Aires to the USA in 2014 marked the beginning of a transformative period in my life. Transitioning from a professional sailor to the tech industry was a significant shift that required adapting to a completely new environment. The rigorous demands of the tech industry tested my resilience, especially while working as a software developer and then as a Product Manager in multiple Tech companies. Founding HOKALI in 2020 brought its own set of challenges, from refining our initial B2C sports lessons marketplace model to scaling it across multiple states. The biggest hurdle came when we had to pivot our business model to an EdTech B2B platform, requiring a deep analysis of KPIs and direct conversations with our users. This pivot was essential to address the high churn rates and CACs associated with adult users, leading us to focus on the education market. Navigating through these challenges, especially during the pandemic, demanded a blend of strategic thinking, user-centric approach, and unwavering determination. Today, with HOKALI’s innovative platform and a committed leadership team, we are poised to scale and make a significant impact in the education sector.

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?
HOKALI simplifies the process of booking, organizing and managing after-school programs and camps for schools. With our platform, schools can easily find and book a variety of onsite programs and camps to supplement learning and enrich student’s extracurricular experiences.

HOKALI stands out from its competitors by being a comprehensive one-stop solution for schools. Unlike others, we offer not only a robust platform for After School Directors to manage programs and registrations but also provide the instructors and teachers for these programs. Our thorough certification process ensures that all instructors are fully qualified and prepared to deliver high-quality services to children, guaranteeing safety and excellence in every program we offer.

HOKALI aims to become the industry leader in after-school programs by offering innovative solutions that cater to the unique needs of schools. Our comprehensive approach, which includes both a robust management platform and a certified network of skilled instructors, positions us to set the standard for excellence and efficiency in the after-school sector. We are dedicated to continuously improving and expanding our services to ensure that schools have everything they need to provide enriching, high-quality programs for their students.

So, before we go, how can our readers or others connect or collaborate with you? How can they support you?
We are always seeking exceptional talent to join our team across all departments, including sales, operations, and product development. Additionally, we are committed to forming partnerships with schools and appointing brand ambassadors and champions to further enhance our reach and impact. To ensure we meet the evolving needs of our clients, we perform weekly calls with school directors to gather their feedback, allowing us to shape and improve our services.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.hokali.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hokali.co/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HOKALI.co/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/hokali
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/hokalico
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCBecSl8CwFwbTStBmxVkHnA

Image Credits
Matías Virasoro Guerrero https://www.instagram.com/virapics/