Estimated read time: 3-4 minutes
SALT LAKE CITY — Learn to paint, rock climb, make sourdough or start a podcast while supporting small businesses, thanks to four BYU students who have created a website that makes it easier to get in some fun.
Learned Local is an innovative app that helps Utahns find classes and activities local to Utah Valley to help them expand their skills and provide people with opportunities to share their passions with others.
"Everybody has a passion, and everybody has something to give to the world. We've made this platform to make it as easy as we could possibly make it for those passionate people to share their talents, and we're looking for people that are wanting to support these small businesses and these small creators in our own community," said Aaron Jarrett, the app's creator.
Jarrett is an entrepreneurship major at BYU, which is where the idea for Learned Local came from. He had a class assignment to think of a problem people face and how to fix it. The problem Jarrett felt strongly about was, "It was just after COVID and I had recognized that I was getting too used to staying inside of my house, and I wasn't going out to create these experiences like I had before COVID," Jarrett said.
As Jarrett developed his idea, he met, one by one, Chase Maxfield, Brendan Dewberry and Grace Sorenson, all in different programs at BYU and all equipped to help Jarrett make Learned Local a reality. Maxfield is majoring in information systems, Dewberry in computer science, and Sorenson in design. The four students are participating in BYU's Sandbox program, where students develop a new tech idea from scratch.
While trying to develop something that could help people get out of the house and learn new things, Jarrett had a conversation with his best friend, who loves to paint. His friend wanted to share his talent and teach others, but didn't have the ability to take care of the technology side of things — building a website. Jarrett knew how to help, and as he met Maxfield, Dewberry and Sorenson, it all fell into place.
The website also offers more affordable options than can often be found. "We're college students, right? It's like finding cool date nights or find a new hobby or just like something easy and genuine," Dewberry said.
To be able to offer an experience through the website, a user needs to create an account needs to be created, and the four students will review the experience idea and talk with the account creator over Zoom. From there, the creator can begin teaching. Jarrett said they have yet to turn down any ideas.
"It absolutely makes our day when we get to meet with these people and and help them take their passion and what they enjoy to another level," Jarrett said.
The four students will be graduating from BYU in April 2024 and are excited to see how Learned Local grows. While experiences are only offered in Utah and Salt Lake counties right now, the plan is to expand.
Find an experience or create your own to teach at Learned Local's website.
