Polaris Institute
Our story

We built the Institute we wished existed.

Polaris Institute started from a simple frustration: education had quietly accepted that big classes and passive screens were good enough. They are not. So we shrank every class, put everyone back in the same room, and hired instructors who actually care whether you improve.

8

Students max per class

6

Courses offered

5

Expert instructors

100%

In-person

What we stand for

Four principles, no compromises

Small by design

A small class is not a limit we tolerate — it is the entire point. Attention is the product, not a perk.

Outcomes over theatre

We measure ourselves on completion rates and real results, not on how slick the marketing looks.

Honest guidance

If a course is not right for you, we say so. Trust is worth more than a single enrolment.

Expert instructors

Every class is led by someone who has done the work, not just read about it.

The team

Instructors who have done the work

Maya Render

Full-Stack Engineering

Former staff engineer who has shipped products used by millions. Teaches the way real teams build — pragmatic, reviewed, and tested.

  • 10+ yrs industry
  • Ex-FAANG
  • MSc Computer Science

Daniel Osei

Data Science & Machine Learning

Built data platforms in fintech before teaching full-time. Known for turning intimidating maths into something you can actually use.

  • PhD Statistics
  • Published researcher
  • Kaggle Master

Camille Laurent

French & Conversational Fluency

Native Parisian and certified language teacher who gets students speaking from the first session. Believes fluency is built through conversation, not flashcards.

  • DELF/DALF examiner
  • MA Applied Linguistics
  • 12+ yrs teaching

Julien Moreau

French for Everyday Life

Montreal-raised and Paris-trained, Julien teaches French the way it is actually spoken — informal, fast, and full of the shortcuts textbooks skip. A favourite with students who tried and stalled elsewhere.

  • DELF examiner
  • BEd Modern Languages
  • 8+ yrs teaching

Sofia Reyes

Kids' Entrepreneurship & Innovation

Started her first business at 12 and has been helping kids do the same ever since. Runs the room like a real startup studio — ideas get built, tested, and pitched, not just discussed.

  • Founder, 2 youth-ed ventures
  • Certified youth facilitator
  • 6+ yrs teaching kids

Come see a class for yourself.

The best way to understand the difference a small class makes is to sit in the room.