Today we’d like to introduce you to Kanan Shah.
Kanan, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
When my son Kavi was in high school, the search began for learning center or institution which would provide the needed individual and focused tutoring for him to assist in bis onward journey. As a hands on mother, i personally visited these institutes and it dawned me that it cannot be “A one size fits all approach” especially when it comes to a varied group of students. Thus “Ottimmo” was born, my second child.
The thought of starting Ottimmo stemmed in 2010. Since i decided to employ tutors under my own company which would allow me to have my son tutored at home with a structure that would tap his potential, identify the areas that needed work and bring out the best in him. Needless to say, this approach worked, and Kavi ended up getting a perfect score of 2400 out of 2400 on SAT.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Doing Business is never a smooth road.
“One of the biggest challenges I faced early on was building trust with parents. As a new tutor or tutoring service, parents are understandably cautious about who is guiding their child’s education. I had to be very intentional about demonstrating credibility — whether through trial sessions, sharing success stories, or maintaining regular and transparent communication. Over time, consistent results and positive word-of-mouth helped build that trust.
Another challenge was finding and retaining good teachers when I started scaling up. Great tutors aren’t just strong in academics — they also need to connect with students and adapt to different learning styles. I had to learn how to screen for both content knowledge and teaching ability, and also create a supportive environment so tutors felt valued and stayed longer.
Finally, promoting the business in the beginning was tough. There’s a lot of competition, and simply being good at teaching doesn’t guarantee visibility. I had to learn the basics of marketing, build a strong online presence, and rely heavily on referrals. It was definitely a learning curve, but those challenges pushed me to grow beyond just being a tutor — they helped me develop entrepreneurial and leadership skills.”
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your business?
At Ottimmo, we’re redefining what personalized education looks like. Unlike traditional tutoring centers, Ottimmo is an online-based learning platform that serves students across the USA and Canada. Our flexibility, accessibility, and commitment to one-on-one instruction make us a standout choice for families seeking more than just homework help.
We specialize in individualized tutoring for students from Kindergarten through High School—and beyond. Our core subjects include Math, English, Science, and Foreign Languages like Spanish and French, with additional support for standardized test prep such as the SAT, ACT, ISEE, and GRE.
What sets Ottimmo apart is our concept-based approach to learning. We don’t believe in one-size-fits-all tutoring. Instead, we take the time to understand each student’s unique learning style, strengths, and areas for growth. We then tailor a customized educational program that empowers them not only to catch up but to excel.
Our mission is to nurture confident, capable learners by building a strong academic foundation—one student at a time. But our work doesn’t stop with the students. We believe parents are vital partners in their child’s educational journey. That’s why we prioritize clear communication and insight sharing, keeping families informed and engaged every step of the way.
At Ottimmo, we’re proud to be known for our dedicated tutors, individualized strategies, and measurable results. We’re not just helping students do better in school—we’re helping them fall in love with learning.
Do you have any advice for those looking to network or find a mentor?
Finding a mentor or building a strong network isn’t just about collecting contacts—it’s about building meaningful relationships that support your personal and professional growth.
What keeps me grounded and continually motivated is staying committed to my mission, my vision—and most importantly, my students. Their progress is my purpose.
Over the years, parents have seen a significant improvement in their children’s academic performance, and that, to me, is the most meaningful validation of what we do at Ottimmo. I take great pride in the trust families place in us, and I’m grateful that nearly all of our growth has come through word of mouth—there’s truly nothing like it.
What I am today is not the result of advertising —it’s the outcome of consistency, dedication, and real results. Seeing students thrive, and knowing that parents are confident enough to recommend us to others, is the greatest reward and a reminder to keep doing what we do, with heart and purpose.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.ottimmo.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ottimmo_learning/?hl=en
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Ottimmo/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dKkVZqSqZk4&t=14s
