Haven Education is a Hong Kong based mentorship and university consulting practice, working mostly with international school students for three to four years ahead of graduation. Rather than one-off exam prep, the team meets students on a weekly basis, building a long-term strategy around each student's own interests and story.
Founder Ryan grew up in Hong Kong and spent time in tech before moving into education full time five years ago. The name Haven carries a double meaning, coined by a friend early on, part pun on "behaving," part reference to a haven, a quiet, safe space to learn.
That belief shapes everything about how Haven works. Where larger tutoring centres operate on volume, hour in, hour out, textbooks included, Haven leans into the opposite, close, high-trust relationships between mentors and students, built over years rather than sessions.
What Brought You to Garage Society?
Haven previously worked out of a nearby workspace, a space Ryan describes as polished but a little imposing for a business built around teenagers.
"I would say the room and the communal space here are nicer. At our last space we had a really nice communal space, but it didn't have such a relaxed vibe for teaching, working with teenagers. It felt a little imposing.
I do appreciate the community here too, and the outside booths are great to work from, I enjoy the vibe. Most of the time though, I like my private office as a quiet space to work.
What's the Most Exciting Thing on Your Plate Right Now?
Over the last few years, Haven has moved beyond pure university strategy into more hands-on capstone work, helping students turn a genuine interest into something real.
One current example, a 16 year old with a serious passion for cooking, a passion his school had no way to support.
"I identified this, I spoke with the kid, I actually listened to him, and I've been able to turn this into an outlet he can sink his time and hours into. Right now he's working with food charities and Michelin star chefs, and the plan is for him to set up his own food truck next year."
Separately, Haven is working with a number of schools to bring in speakers from industries students rarely get exposed to, successful music producers, Olympian athletes, chefs, fashion designers, rather than the usual lineup of bankers, lawyers, and doctors.
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Give Us a Fun Fact About the Team
Ask Ryan what he is really trying to build at Haven, and the answer is not a school, it is a Renaissance man.
"I'm very inspired by the ideal of the Renaissance man. They were poets, they fenced, they fought, they were philosophers, and brilliant scientists on top of that. Why do we have to just look at 45 out of 45 for the IB? Why can't we be better, more well rounded than that?"
It is less a fact than a philosophy, but it is the one Ryan keeps coming back to, the ambition to raise students who are far more well rounded than a single grade could ever capture.
Where Do You See the Industry Heading?
Ryan's view on AI in education is shaped partly by his own past in tech, where he watched plenty of once-unstoppable trends come and go.
"When I started Haven, I really asked myself, what are the things that have not changed? For hundreds, thousands of years, even back when Aristotle was lecturing his students, you had to impart knowledge. But fundamentally, teaching and inspiring people is human to human."
"I'm having a dialogue with a teenager who is confused, who is struggling maybe with peer pressure, parental pressure, looking for reassurance and guidance. But more than that, they're looking for human connection. I'd bet that I can inspire a kid a lot more than they would talking to Gemini or ChatGPT."
He is equally direct about what he would change in Hong Kong's education culture, the fear and anxiety he believes sits underneath so many decisions parents and students make.
"I do feel like a lot of that conversation, especially in Asia, especially in Hong Kong, is driven by fear, by anxiety.. I want my students to think less about how they can score the best on a test, and more about how they can become the best version of themselves."
Looking for a Mentor for Your Child? Visit Haven Education
Haven works with students for the long term, building a strategy around who they already are rather than a generic path to a target score.
Get in touch with Haven Education to find out more.
Want to Work Alongside Teams Like Haven?
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Whether you are looking for a dedicated desk, a private office, or simply a smarter way to establish your business in Hong Kong with a virtual office, we would love to show you around.
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Ryan Lao, Founder at Haven Education interviewed by James Bernardo, Garage Society
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