Dubai's Skilldeer Expands Regionally, Starting With KSA and Bahrain

Skilldeer, Dubai's "most comprehensive" website for learning activities and experiences announced on August 13^th their plans to expand beyond the UAE. "We are planning to expand across the UAE followed by KSA by Q1 2019 and Bahrain Q3 2019," Skilldeer's CEO and Co-Founder Philipp Tachas tells Startup Scene. Launched in April 2017, Skilldeer is an award-winning online platform that allows users to conveniently find, browse and discover any sort of class, course, workshop or leisure activity in their city. Based in Dubai, so far there has been 100,000 monthly website visits. 

"One of the reasons we started Skilldeer is because we know from [our] own experience how much [of a] hassle it can be to find a suitable class or instructor. We spend a significant amount of time searching, comparing, and vetting our listed partners to put together an unparalleled collection of learning experiences,” says Tachas. “Our mission is to enrich lives through learning and we are so excited at the initial positive feedback. We are constantly enhancing our website to enable more people to conveniently try out something new, discover their passion, advance their career or simply connect with similar-minded people in their community,” he adds.

Tachas' co-founder and Skilldeer's COO Orkun Gedik wants to change the way people across the region spend their free time in a day and age where a lot of it is spent on frivolous social media browsing, as he describes.  "This is why we have created a digital gateway to a real world of knowledge sharing, connecting and communicating, a world of endless possibilities,” Gedik says. 

Skilldeer partners with qualified service providers, digitalises their schedules, optimises their content, and promotes their classes on the online platform, with the purpose of making the booking and enrollment process seamless for both the providers and the users. customers can search for the most suitable classes and activities based on their preferences and requirements.

“One of the most popular features on the site is the option for customers to gift one of our courses or classes to their friends and family. What better way to commemorate a special occasion then by bestowing a skill upon a loved one. Not only will it become an asset for a lifetime but likely to be far more appreciated than something short-lived like flowers or a box of chocolates,” adds Gedik.

The startup was recently awarded “Best Digital Product 2018” at the prestigious Etisalat Hello Business Competition; lauded as a new digital platform offering consumers a direct avenue to discover and purchase courses and classes directly from the source through a user-friendly online booking experience.

Main Image: From left to right, Co-Founder and CEO Philipp Tachas and Co-Founder and COO Orkun Gedik. Courtesy of Skilldeer.