During Spring Quarter 2024, the UC Irvine ANTrepreneur Center hosted a new program called the Side Hustle Challenge. The Side Hustle Challenge offered students the training, resources, and networking opportunities they needed to turn their passions into bonafide ventures. Throughout the quarter, the students learned about branding, finances, legal considerations, e-commerce, and other key aspects of building a business. The program culminated in a Finals Marketplace where the UC Irvine and wider Orange County communities were invited to explore the various student-developed side hustles and shop their products and services.
To highlight some of the incredible student side hustlers who participated in the challenge, Ryan Foland, ANTrepreneur Center Director, invited these ANTrepreneurs for a series of informative interviews. Welcome to Side Hustler Stories!
In this interview, Ryan sits down with UC Irvine student Daniyal Rauf (Biomedical Engineering: Premedical) to learn more about his side hustle OC Tutors (Home | OC Stem Tutors).
Ryan: Ahoy, Daniyal! Thanks for meeting with me to discuss your tutoring side hustle OC Tutors. You’ve mentioned before that OC Tutors takes a more practical approach to teaching; can you elaborate on that? How does OC Tutors integrate real-world relevance into the curriculum?
Daniyal: At OC Tutors, we focus on teaching conceptual topics with real-world applications. For example, in STEM subjects, instead of just solving equations, we connect problems to everyday scenarios, like using physics to explain roller coaster dynamics or chemistry to understand how cooking works. This approach makes the material relatable and engaging while helping students see the practical value of what they’re learning.
Ryan: Another interesting aspect of OC Tutors is that you focus primarily on STEM subjects. Can you explain this decision?
Daniyal: We emphasize STEM because it’s a critical area with high fail rates—up to 50% in some cases—but also offers significant career rewards. By focusing on STEM, we aim to address these challenges with targeted support. This focus aligns with the growing demand for STEM professionals in the workforce and helps students build foundational skills for future success.
Ryan: I appreciate that you’ve recognized this gap and designed your business to fill it. Were there other reasons you decided to develop OC Tutors?
Daniyal: My experience overcoming personal educational struggles taught me the importance of tailored learning and perseverance. This, combined with my technical knowledge of tools like Mendix and my analytical skills, has been instrumental in designing a platform that is both student- and tutor-friendly.
Ryan: OC Tutors employs college students as tutors. How do you ensure they are prepared to tutor?
Daniyal: We prepare our tutors by providing them with detailed lesson plans, structured teaching techniques, and resources to focus on active learning strategies like Socratic questioning and spaced repetition. Additionally, we prioritize matching tutors with students in subjects they’ve recently mastered, so they bring fresh and relevant insights. Regular feedback and reflection help tutors continuously improve.
Ryan: How do you manage your time and responsibilities as a student entrepreneur?
Daniyal: Balancing OC Tutors with academic pursuits requires strong time management. I use tools like detailed scheduling and prioritization to stay on track. My advice to other student entrepreneurs is to delegate effectively, stay organized, and focus on the bigger picture without losing sight of day-to-day tasks.
Ryan: You participated in the Side Hustle Challenge that we hosted last year. What’s one impactful piece of feedback you received during the challenge?
Daniyal: One key piece of advice I received was to focus on creating a value proposition that resonates with both students and parents. We were encouraged to emphasize affordability and quality, which pushed us to refine our pricing strategy and marketing efforts to highlight our unique strengths, like tailoring lessons to each student’s needs.
Ryan: Speaking of value and cost, how do you balance affordability with fair tutor compensation?
Daniyal: Our commission-based model ensures that tutors receive a fair share of the hourly rate we charge, while keeping costs reasonable for students. For instance, with a $30/hour session, the tutor earns $20 while $10 supports platform operations. Balancing this can be challenging, especially with students requiring extra attention, but the long-term goal is to scale efficiently while ensuring both tutors and students benefit.
Ryan: What are your plans for scaling OC Tutors?
Daniyal: Looking ahead, we plan to expand into additional subjects like humanities and languages while retaining our focus on conceptual understanding. We’re also exploring new features, such as a subscription-based model for regular tutoring sessions and expanding to regions where AP classes and STEM support are in high demand.
Ryan: That’s awesome! One last question; how will OC Tutors stay competitive in the evolving online education market?
Daniyal: To remain competitive, we’ll continue to innovate by leveraging technology to enhance engagement—such as interactive virtual whiteboards and adaptive lesson plans based on student progress. We also plan to maintain a strong emphasis on real-world relevance and conceptual learning, which sets us apart from generic tutoring platforms.
Inspired by Daniyal’s journey and interested in other student side hustles? Don’t miss the next $ide Hustle Challenge that will happen in Spring 2025! Follow the ANTrepreneur Center on Instagram to learn more.
Want help developing and launching your side hustle or business venture? Then visit the ANTrepreneur Center website to learn more about programming, speaker series, Micro-Internships, funding, and more. You can also learn more about the Center’s collaborations with Blackstone LaunchPad, Tech Coast Angels, Tech Coast Venture Network, OC Startup Council, and SoCal Celebrates Entrepreneurship. Keep up with the Center’s latest news by following them on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and LinkedIn.