Design a two-sided marketplace matching skill learners with expert teachers

You are the product manager responsible for building a new learning platform. It matches people who want to pick up a skill with experienced practitioners who can teach it, across a wide range: hands-on crafts such as pottery and welding, instruments such as piano, and academic subjects such as math. In effect, it is a sharing economy for skills. How would you approach building it? ```hint Not every skill behaves the same A welding lesson needs a workshop, equipment and safety rules; a math session works over video. Decide which skills, which side of the market and which locations you start with before you list features. ``` ### Clarifying Questions - Is this a standalone venture or a product inside an established company, and if the latter, can it draw on that company's existing distribution, such as search, maps or payments? - Should lessons happen in person, online or both? - Does the platform only match, book and take payment, or should it also host the teaching itself, such as course content, video sessions and progress tracking? - What should the first year optimize for: marketplace liquidity and growth, revenue, or learner outcomes? ### What a Strong Answer Covers - A mission and one launch goal for a two-sided skills marketplace, with an explicit choice of which skill categories and locations to start in - Segmentation of both learners (hobbyists, career upskillers, parents booking for children) and teachers (experts teaching on the side, full-time instructors, studios with space and equipment), with a reasoned launch focus - Pain points on each side, especially judging teacher quality, scheduling, equipment and venues for physical skills, payment, and safety - A prioritized first release that solves the cold-start problem, with the trade-offs stated - Success metrics with guardrails, plus risks such as learners and teachers moving off the platform and liability for hazardous skills ### Follow-up Questions - After the first booking, teachers and learners start arranging lessons directly to avoid your fee. What do you do? - How would you handle safety and liability when a beginner learns welding in a stranger's workshop? - Learners sign up and take one lesson, but few book a second. How would you find out why, and what would you change?