Frequently Asked Questions

We cover all major subjects: Academic (Math, English, Science, Chinese), Music (Piano, Violin, etc.), Languages (Cantonese, Mandarin, French, Spanish), Arts, and Sports. If you don't see what you need, contact us and we'll help find a suitable teacher.

Simply browse our verified teachers, select one that matches your needs, and click "Book Lesson" on their profile. You'll fill in your preferred times and subjects, and our team will match you with the teacher. Payment is held securely in escrow until the lesson is complete.

When you sign up for four lessons with a teacher, your first lesson is completely free. This gives you a chance to meet the teacher, assess their teaching style, and make sure it's a good fit before committing to ongoing lessons.

Lessons cancelled 24+ hours in advance receive a full refund. Cancellations within 24 hours receive a 50% refund. If a teacher cancels, you receive a full refund automatically. We protect both parents and teachers from last-minute changes.

You can switch teachers at any time with no penalty. If you have concerns about a teacher, contact our support team and we'll help resolve the situation. We want to ensure every student finds the right match.

Online lessons are conducted via video call (Zoom, Google Meet, or your preferred platform). The teacher shares a virtual lesson space where they can use screen sharing, digital whiteboards, and interactive tools. All online lessons are still covered by our escrow payment protection.

We serve students from Primary 1 through to adults. Our teachers specialize in different age groups, from young children learning basics to DSE exam preparation to professional skill development.

Absolutely. You're never locked into a single teacher. If you want to try someone different, simply book with another teacher. There are no penalties for switching, and we encourage students to find the best fit.

You set your own rates based on your experience and specialization. Most teachers on Minerva charge HK$300-500/hour for academic subjects, and HK$280-450/hour for music and arts. Your earnings are direct — no hidden deductions beyond our transparent commission structure.

Payments are processed through Stripe and released to your account within 3 business days after lesson completion. All payments are held securely in escrow until both you and the student confirm the lesson went ahead.

If a student cancels within 24 hours, they receive a 50% refund and you keep 50% of the lesson fee as compensation. This protects you from lost income due to last-minute cancellations.

You decide what works best for your teaching style. Many teachers use their own materials, worksheets, and textbooks. We also provide access to a shared resource library you can use. Students often have their own materials from school as well.

When you join as a teacher, your first four completed lessons have zero commission taken by Minerva. This means you keep 100% of what parents pay. After the fourth lesson, our standard commission rate applies (20-30% depending on subject and experience level).

All teachers must complete our verification process: ID verification (HKID or passport), qualification checks, reference verification, and a short interview. This typically takes 2-3 days and ensures trust for parents and students.

Yes. Minerva is fully compliant with Hong Kong's Personal Data (Privacy) Ordinance (PDPO). Your personal information is encrypted and never shared with third parties without your consent. We use Stripe for payments, which is PCI-DSS compliant.

We offer full transparency on refunds. Lessons cancelled 24+ hours in advance receive full refunds. Within 24 hours, 50% refund. Teacher no-shows result in full refunds to parents. Refunds are processed within 5 business days to your original payment method.

We currently operate in Hong Kong, covering Hong Kong Island, Kowloon, and the New Territories. Online tutoring is available globally. We're planning expansion to other Asian cities in 2027.

You can reach us via email at support@minerva.hk or WhatsApp at +852 XXXX XXXX. Our team is available Monday to Saturday, 9am-6pm HKT. For urgent matters during lessons, we have emergency support available.

We're the first platform in Asia combining verified teachers, escrow payments, virtual scheduling, and AI-powered matching. Unlike agencies that take 40-60% commission, we charge 20-30%. Unlike casual platforms, we verify every teacher and protect both parents and teachers through our escrow system.