Learning Lot: Reimagining How Kids Learn—Together
Interview by Heather Anderson
Nena, founder of Learning Lot, is no stranger to reinvention. From navigating life to building a tech career from scratch, she’s always followed curiosity over convention. Now, as a parent, she’s bringing that same energy to education. Learning Lot is a new community-driven platform helping families connect with local instructors and other curious kids to learn together—outside the traditional classroom. In this conversation, Nena shares the personal story that sparked the idea, how Learning Lot works, and why she believes the future of learning is local, collaborative, and deeply human.
Let’s start with your story. What led you to dream up Learning Lot?
I grew up in Yugoslavia during the war. That experience made me resilient and constantly rethinking how life could be different. I left home at 19 and reinvented myself across Europe, then again when I moved to the U.S. with almost nothing—no job, no community, barely enough money for one night in a hotel.
Eventually, I taught myself how to code, started volunteering, and landed a job that sponsored my work visa. But what truly changed my life wasn’t a classroom—it was learning in community. The best education I received happened in cafes and coding groups with peers who shared knowledge freely. That experience stayed with me.
Years later, when I became a mom, I started noticing something: my child wasn’t thriving in traditional classrooms. He was curious, collaborative, loved asking questions—but that didn’t fit the mold. His spark for learning started to fade. That’s when the idea for Learning Lot began to take shape.
What was the lightbulb moment when you realized, “We need something different for how kids learn”?
It wasn’t one big moment—it was a pattern I kept seeing over and over. We’d enroll our son in a new school, hopeful it would be a better fit. But each time, we saw the same thing: his curiosity being shut down, his questions ignored, and his love for learning fading.
Eventually, we started taking him out of school one day a week and experimenting with learning outside the classroom. We brought in different tutors, organized small learning groups, and immediately saw the change. He was excited again—asking questions, remembering what he learned, and truly engaging. That was our proof that something different was not only possible, but necessary.
“I believe the future of education is local, flexible, and collaborative.”
For someone hearing about Learning Lot for the first time, how would you describe it? What exactly is it—and what problem does it solve?
Learning Lot is a platform that helps parents find or create small learning groups in their neighborhood based on shared interests.
We match curious kids with other like-minded kids nearby—and connect families with tutors, mentors, or guides who can lead sessions rooted in hands-on, interest-based learning.
It solves the disconnect many families feel: kids aren’t engaged at school, parents want more community, and no one has time to research the perfect class or tutor. We make it easy and local.
What does a Learning Lot group actually look like in real life?
Imagine your child is obsessed with rockets. Through Learning Lot, you discover a few other kids in your neighborhood who love the same thing. We might match you with a local college student studying aerospace, or a retired NASA engineer living down the street.
The families meet up at a local park or coffee shop for a trial session. If it clicks, you start meeting regularly at someone's home—maybe once a week, maybe more. Everyone shares the cost, and the learning feels like play: child-engaged, interest-led, and joyful.
How is this different from traditional tutoring or microschools?
Traditional tutoring is usually one-on-one, academic, and often tied to test prep. Microschools can be amazing, but they typically follow a set curriculum and require more commitment.
Learning Lot is more flexible. It’s a way to experiment with collaborative learning—based on what your child actually loves. The sessions might be led by a college student, a retired teacher, or even a parent who is excited to share their knowledge. It’s less “school,” more “apprenticeship meets neighborhood hangout.” or like a neighborhood skillshare.
We love that this model supports both affordability and flexibility. How does the shared-cost model work?
Because groups are small—typically 3 to 6 kids—families can split the cost of the instructor. The more kids, the more affordable it gets, without sacrificing the benefits of a small group.
It’s also flexible. If a family can’t find the right guide, we can provide project ideas or templates so the group can still meet and learn together. Parents decide how involved they want to be.
The idea of “interest-based learning” comes up a lot in your work. Why is that so powerful?
Because that’s how humans actually learn.
Kids remember what excites them. If you’ve ever sat through a boring adult workshop, you get it—it’s hard to stay engaged when you’re not invested. But when kids follow their curiosity, they’re not just learning—they’re building confidence, purpose, and connection.
Interest-based learning keeps their inner spark alive, which I believe is the foundation of a meaningful life.
What kinds of families are most drawn to Learning Lot right now?
Families who are already exploring alternatives—like homeschooling or micro-schooling—are the earliest adopters. They’re open to doing things differently and often already feeling let down by the traditional system.
That said, we’re also seeing interest from working parents who aren’t necessarily ready to ditch school entirely but want more engaging, community-based experiences for their kids.
This feels like the start of a bigger movement. What’s your vision for the future?
I believe the future of education is local, flexible, and collaborative.
My big vision is to spark a movement where families reclaim learning as a joyful, shared experience—one that happens in living rooms, backyards, coffee shops, and libraries.
I want to see thousands of these small groups forming organically across cities and suburbs. And I want to build the platform that makes it all easy, trusted, and joyful to organize.
How can people get involved?
If you’re a parent:
Join the waitlist for free at www.learninglot.co. We’re starting with a pilot in San Francisco and expanding from there. Add your zip code and interests, and we’ll let you know when we’re ready to match you with like-minded families and tutors near you.
If you’re an instructor, mentor, or tutor:
We’d love to hear from you! You can sign up here to be considered for our pilot groups. Whether you’re a college student, a professional, or passionate hobbyist—if you love working with kids, we want to know you.
If you’re an investor or collaborator:
We’re looking for aligned partners who believe in reshaping education from the ground up. Email [email protected] to start the conversation.
Want to stay in the loop—or help this idea grow?
Join the waitlist for Learning Lot at www.learninglot.co.
Tell a friend or neighbor who might be interested.
Or reach out to Nena directly via email if you’d like to be involved.
Connect with Nena Djaja on Facebook, Instagram or LinkedIn.
You can also find her on The M List, The Mamahood’s searchable database of mom-recommended resources, or connect and collaborate with her inside The Club membership for women Founders.