Andrii Sheverdin: 'Every Teenager Should Have the Opportunity to Learn Without Barriers'

The driver education sector is evolving rapidly with the advent of digital learning. Andrii Sheverdin, a pioneer in this realm, transforms traditional driver training with his innovative app, “Driving School in the Phone.” This platform disrupts the status quo, making quality driver education universally accessible, particularly for teenagers. In a revealing interview, Sheverdin shares insights into his groundbreaking approach and dedication to making driver training inclusive, driven by his philosophy: "Empowering every teenager to learn without barriers."

Since 2021, the driving school industry has experienced significant changes. A major development is the adoption of online education. From the start of 2023, driver's license applicants in the USA must complete a five-hour online course for a "Pre-Licensing Course Certificate," an hour longer than in previous years. This change in teaching methods has sparked intense discussions. Many drivers worry that reducing in-person lessons with instructors might increase road accidents.

Andrii Sheverdin, a driving school founder and winner of the International IT Project Competition Bridge in the EdTech Visionary category and the Skolkovo award, launched the innovative online platform "Driving School in the Phone." This platform played a crucial role in assisting countless educational institutions in maintaining their operations remotely amid the pandemic. It demonstrated that educational quality can be sustained even when shifting to digital platforms. In November 2023, Sheverdin expanded his operations by establishing CoreWaY LLC in New York, marking his entry into the American market. Our interview explores the future of driver training and the role of technology in this evolution.

Andrii, before the launch of your driving school application, the online education market in this area was somewhat underdeveloped. Having been involved in driving instruction since the mid-2000s, could you share some insights into the challenges faced by students and schools before your innovative solution came into play?

The vast majority of driving schools functioned solely in a traditional, offline manner. Theoretical training was conducted exclusively through in-person sessions, adhering to a fixed schedule. This necessitated students to accommodate, often involving significant travel time. Managing payments and handling administrative tasks previously required in-person attendance. This method restricted the frequency of interaction between the students and staff at the driving schools. Operations within these schools were predominantly paper-based, with little to no digital integration. Before our intervention, no complete strategies were in place for driving schools to an online educational model.

Your product was a trailblazer in the field, combining mobility and modern technology, a feat acknowledged by the Russian National Business Awards. But what sparked the concept for the highly successful "Driving School in the Phone" application?

The idea to create a mobile application for driving schools came after many years of working in this field and a deep understanding of its problems and needs. From my own experience, I encountered that the learning process in driving schools was often inconvenient for students precisely because of the need to adjust to the schedule and spend time on the road - about which I already mentioned - there were other inconveniences. As the head of a driving school, I saw difficulties in organizing effective interaction between employees and students within the driving school. In communicating with young students, I understood that they needed a more modern, mobile learning format. Eventually, I realized it was necessary to create an application that would allow for online learning, remote handling of organizational issues, and make getting a driver's license more comfortable for students. These ideas formed the basis of "Driving School in the Phone."

Frequently, there's skepticism about online educational platforms, particularly for something as critical as learning to drive. Yet, the training provided through your application matches the effectiveness of conventional, in-person learning methods. How were you able to accomplish this?

Yes, one of the critical tasks we set for ourselves when creating the "Driving School in the Phone" application was to ensure the same high quality of online learning as in the traditional offline format. And we put a lot of effort into this. First, our educational platform includes modern interactive tools: tests, video lessons, and 3D animations. This allows the student to immerse deeply in the material and gain the necessary knowledge.

Moreover, we implemented functions for remote interaction of students with teachers through chats and video conferencing. Any question can be asked online and promptly receive qualified consultation. Also, in the application, there is an option to take theory exams online to prepare for the traffic police exam fully.

Numerous driving schools have adopted your product and have reached thousands of driving students in your home country. Would this level of uptake be a success?

Success is a relative concept. There is always something to strive for; however, we achieved impressive growth and business scaling thanks to the introduction of our application in driving schools. Our clients increased students' graduation several times with the same number of employees. This was made possible by optimizing and automating business processes using our platform.

But the most important thing is that we are fundamentally changing the approach to training in driving schools, making it genuinely modern and convenient for students thanks to mobile technologies.

My team and I take great pride in seeing how our product enhances the quality of educational services in driver training. And this is the best reward for us as a company-developer.

With a substantial client base utilizing your platform, how does your company's organizational structure facilitate effective interaction with them? Can you describe how you established this structure?

At CoreWaY LLC, we have formed a unique and multifunctional team that works in different corners of the world. This affords us a distinctive advantage: we can identify and utilize top talents, irrespective of their geographic location. This is incredibly crucial in our line of work.

Managing such a distributed team requires flexibility and an innovative approach. We strive to maintain constant communication and ensure that all our employees, regardless of location, feel involved in the company's overall process and course.

We use various technological tools and platforms to stay on the same wavelength, even in different time zones. It also helps us be closer to our clients worldwide and better understand their needs.

Our company generally puts flexibility, open communication, and teamwork at the forefront, allowing us to effectively respond to rapidly changing market demands and stay at the forefront of innovation in driver training.

Andrii, could you share some details about the new company you've established in the USA? What are your strategies for entering the American market, and how do you intend to tailor your approach to accommodate the unique aspects of driver training in the United States?

Our new company, CoreWaY LLC, which I registered in November of this year in New York, represents an important step in our endeavor to bring innovation to driver training in the USA. We plan to offer a fresh look at the educational process, combining proven methodologies with modern technologies.

The main goal of our company in the USA is to provide affordable, convenient, and practical driver training. We realize that educational requirements and preferences in the USA differ from those in Russia. Therefore, we will adapt our approach to each state's local features and legislative requirements to make our training as relevant and effective as possible. In the American market, the main focus will be on creating a comprehensive educational program for drivers of all categories: from passenger cars (category D, in Russia - category B) to motorcycles and trucks (CDL - Commercial Driver's License). Considering the popularity and demand for category CDL in the USA, we will pay special attention to the training of truck drivers.

We also plan to cooperate closely with local driving schools and educational institutions to make our programs and methods entirely relevant. Our goal is to create a holistic educational ecosystem that will meet the needs of modern American drivers and contribute to road safety.

With your driver training application gearing up for its imminent IOS release in the USA, could you highlight this app's distinctive features and functions? How does it stand out from other existing solutions in the market?

Yes, we eagerly await the upcoming release of our new driver training application on mobile platforms in the USA. This application is developed with our commitment to innovation and providing high-quality training. In addition to adaptive learning and artificial intelligence support, we have introduced some unique features that make our application more inclusive and accessible.

Firstly, we thought about schoolchildren. You know, teenagers learn differently; they need a different approach. Therefore, we introduced a special mode for grades 9-12 students. In it, everything is more straightforward and more enjoyable: simplified цtests, interactive guides, and all that. And most importantly - for school children, it is entirely free. We want every teenager to have the opportunity to learn to drive without any barriers.

Another thing we cared about was support for immigrants. Our application is now available in eight languages. This means that no matter who you are and where you come from, you can easily switch to your native language in the application.

Our application serves more than just the purpose of learning how to drive. It signifies the progression toward establishing a more inclusive, accessible educational environment. We want everyone, regardless of age or background, to have the opportunity to learn and develop.

What is your planned course of action or strategy to implement?

We are setting our sights high with plans to enhance our application's features and break into new markets. An essential advancement we've made is incorporating artificial intelligence to personalize learning experiences and support students from various countries. This involves real-time translation of messages, enabling seamless communication between clients and driving school staff in their preferred languages.

Additionally, our goal is to collaborate with driving schools in every state across the U.S. This will allow us to provide a more complete range of services to those learning to drive.