The Entrepreneurs: Ethan Fieldman, 26, and Matt Hintze, 36
YoungGainesville, October08 November 8th, 2008
By Rebecca Ganzak, October 2008
Photo By Zachary Bennett
When Matt Hintze gave his first public tutoring lesson in 2000, 50 students showed up willing to pay the $20 fee. The University of Florida finance graduate student had previously tutored only a handful of people, but even he was surprised that advertising his services created such a phenomenon.
“I just made $1,000 in one day,” Hintze said. “I thought, ‘Wow! I can take my girlfriend out to dinner!’ ”
Hintze witnessed the birth of TutoringZone, Gainesville’s No. 1 provider of educational services. More than 7,000 UF students take advantage of its programs each semester.
In 2000, Hintze, who is now married with three children, met his business partner Ethan Fieldman who was conducting review sessions of his own. Four years later, the duo officially formed their business.
Since then, TutoringZone has expanded from its roots in Gainesville to the University of Georgia and to Florida State University. “The best thing we do is help students,” said Fieldman. “We benefit the UF community, and they thank us all the time.”
After nearly a decade of helping students pass classes like the dreaded financial accounting, Hintze said the center’s tutors get celebrity treatment.
“There are few jobs where your customers will love you this much,” Hintze said. “All the tutors go around town getting free drinks and dinner—they are treated like rock stars.”
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The Entrepreneurs: Ethan Fieldman, 26, and Matt Hintze, 36
YoungGainesville, October08 November 8th, 2008By Rebecca Ganzak, October 2008
Photo By Zachary Bennett
When Matt Hintze gave his first public tutoring lesson in 2000, 50 students showed up willing to pay the $20 fee. The University of Florida finance graduate student had previously tutored only a handful of people, but even he was surprised that advertising his services created such a phenomenon.
“I just made $1,000 in one day,” Hintze said. “I thought, ‘Wow! I can take my girlfriend out to dinner!’ ”
Hintze witnessed the birth of TutoringZone, Gainesville’s No. 1 provider of educational services. More than 7,000 UF students take advantage of its programs each semester.
In 2000, Hintze, who is now married with three children, met his business partner Ethan Fieldman who was conducting review sessions of his own. Four years later, the duo officially formed their business.
Since then, TutoringZone has expanded from its roots in Gainesville to the University of Georgia and to Florida State University. “The best thing we do is help students,” said Fieldman. “We benefit the UF community, and they thank us all the time.”
After nearly a decade of helping students pass classes like the dreaded financial accounting, Hintze said the center’s tutors get celebrity treatment.
“There are few jobs where your customers will love you this much,” Hintze said. “All the tutors go around town getting free drinks and dinner—they are treated like rock stars.”
