Shai Reshef

So here it is. KIT was a great company. We decided to sell it to L'Oreal. Their name was not L'Oreal at the time. It was Sylvan Learning. Then they changed their name. And I went to New York, semi-retired. But Very fast, I realized and my family realized that I'm not the retired person. I'm too hyper. And I felt that I want to continue.

So here it is. KIT was a great company. We decided to sell it to L'Oreal. Their name was not L'Oreal at the time. It was Sylvan Learning. Then they changed their name. And I went to New York, semi-retired. But Very fast, I realized and my family realized that I'm not the retired person. I'm too hyper. And I felt that I want to continue.

But it was also clear to me that I don't want to do more of the same. I sold two businesses. I felt that it's my turn to give back. And for me to give back was, and that's my personality, I want to do it in a way that will have an impact on the world. And having impact on the world is obviously education. Because when you think about it, when you educate one person, you can change a life.

But it was also clear to me that I don't want to do more of the same. I sold two businesses. I felt that it's my turn to give back. And for me to give back was, and that's my personality, I want to do it in a way that will have an impact on the world. And having impact on the world is obviously education. Because when you think about it, when you educate one person, you can change a life.

But if you educate many, you can change the world. So I start looking around and I wasn't sure how to do it and what exactly I want to do. But then through a friend, I met a company that wanted me to become involved. And I met them, two young kids, not that young, but, you know, in their early 20s, young. And I said, what do you do?

But if you educate many, you can change the world. So I start looking around and I wasn't sure how to do it and what exactly I want to do. But then through a friend, I met a company that wanted me to become involved. And I met them, two young kids, not that young, but, you know, in their early 20s, young. And I said, what do you do?

And they said, you know, we have a website, obviously in education, where students come every day. with their homework online and professors come online and offer them help to help them with their homework. And I said, and what do the professor do? They said, well, they get nothing. They get karma points, which worth nothing. It's just a prestige.

And they said, you know, we have a website, obviously in education, where students come every day. with their homework online and professors come online and offer them help to help them with their homework. And I said, and what do the professor do? They said, well, they get nothing. They get karma points, which worth nothing. It's just a prestige.

I said, listen, I know the world and I know education and I understand a little bit psychology. If you help students with their homework, You are a tutor. If you're a tutor, why won't you take money? I said, well, you don't understand the internet. I said, okay, I'm willing to learn.

I said, listen, I know the world and I know education and I understand a little bit psychology. If you help students with their homework, You are a tutor. If you're a tutor, why won't you take money? I said, well, you don't understand the internet. I said, okay, I'm willing to learn.

And I came to their website and I realized that every time students come online, there are hundreds of professors who are willing to help them for free. What they get in return is karma points, which worth nothing. And I said, wait a second. By now, if you look at what makes higher education

And I came to their website and I realized that every time students come online, there are hundreds of professors who are willing to help them for free. What they get in return is karma points, which worth nothing. And I said, wait a second. By now, if you look at what makes higher education

You need content, but there was already open educational resources, which means content that professors put online for free. There is open source technology, free technology. And if there are professors that are willing to teach for free, actually, this is what you need for a university. All I had to do is to put it together and create tuition-free university. So that's where the idea came from.

You need content, but there was already open educational resources, which means content that professors put online for free. There is open source technology, free technology. And if there are professors that are willing to teach for free, actually, this is what you need for a university. All I had to do is to put it together and create tuition-free university. So that's where the idea came from.

So I said, okay, it was open source technology, open educational resources and volunteers. I said, this is a university. All I have to do, as I said, is to put it together. So I went to a conference in Munich. And I announced that I'm going to start a tuition-free university.

So I said, okay, it was open source technology, open educational resources and volunteers. I said, this is a university. All I have to do, as I said, is to put it together. So I went to a conference in Munich. And I announced that I'm going to start a tuition-free university.

And by the way, I should have said that when I was in KIT, I realized that the main problem is that so many people need education. but they can't afford it. And when I was thinking about creating University of the People, I realized I read a UNESCO statement on that year in 2009 that in 2025, right now, there will be 100 million students without universities to serve them. So I said, okay.

And by the way, I should have said that when I was in KIT, I realized that the main problem is that so many people need education. but they can't afford it. And when I was thinking about creating University of the People, I realized I read a UNESCO statement on that year in 2009 that in 2025, right now, there will be 100 million students without universities to serve them. So I said, okay.

I announced the university in Munich. The next day, the New York Times wrote a page about it. And the following day, I already had hundreds of emails from professors who said, wow, we want to help. And they built the New York City.

I announced the university in Munich. The next day, the New York Times wrote a page about it. And the following day, I already had hundreds of emails from professors who said, wow, we want to help. And they built the New York City.