2. Before entrepreneurship
He attended Harvard in 1997. This is where he started his
passion for tutoring younger kids. He started tutoring in his
freshman year at Harvard in a dorm room. He was a 12 year
old man at the Gilman School and graduated as its
valedictorian.
3. Personal life
David Kim was born (born March 6, 1979) and raised in
Lutherville, Maryland. He was a 12 year man at the Gilman
School and graduated as its valedictorian. His father is Tae
Kwon Do Master Jae Kim, who along with Master Jhoon
Rhee helped popularize Tae Kwon Do in the United States in
the 70s and 80s. Education, A.B., 2000, Harvard
College, 1997. As of today there are 40 locations of C2
Education and 112 are franchises. He is now worth close to
50 million dollars, for sure a millionaire in his own right.
4. Why it was successful
Almost 20% of C2’s income is spent on R&D. C2 vigorously
researches new curricula, advanced teaching methods, and
professional development for its, instructors. C2’s corporate
focus: make smart students smarter.
David Kim began tutoring when he was a freshman at Harvard
University. He became so popular with Boston-area school students that
he had to recruit more tutors. This early effort laid the groundwork for
what became C2 Education. “I wanted to be able to stand on my own
two feet,” says Kim. “My parents came to the US with nothing and made
their way in the world. I wanted to be like them. ”
5. Characteristics
Kim was especially inspired by the work ethic and business
sense of his father, Bobby. A successful entrepreneur in his own
right, Bobby owned a thriving chain of karate studios. As a young
boy, David often spent summers traveling to each studio, helping
his father monitor operations. He remembers those visits fondly.
“My dad helped me build a strong foundation for reading and
writing by encouraging me to interact with the instructors,” Kim
recalls. “They took time to talk with me and read to me from the
pile of books my dad bought,” One of his dad’s instructors, a
Harvard student, even took Kim to get his first library card. These
early experiences in a supportive environment became the pillars
of Kim’s academic success.
