FOUNDER(S)
Dr. Valencia Belle
www.schoolstestprep.com
SCHOOLS, a globally certified Benefit Corporation, uses innovative ed-tech to connect test prep, workforce development, and college and career readiness. Our niche market is raising test scores for BIPOC, LATINX, rural, and marginalized students 2 to 3 Grade levels behind in English and Math attending failing schools. Our competitive advantage is 10X the ACT/SAT composite score increase of US test prep online vendors at 1/10th of the cost in a fraction of the time. By targeting subscription sales B2B to school districts utilizing Federal Title I funds, and B2C to students and student-athletes globally through referrals, we've helped more than 250,000 students earn $250 million dollars in scholarships. Our solution, an innovative ACT/SAT test preparation strategy for score increase success, was formulated into a proof of concept endorsed by Harvard, MIT, Wharton, and USC. We then packaged, white labeled, and prepared our product as a subscription available for purchase B2B by school systems/districts ($155 per pupil) and B2C by individuals ($375 per student) through ed tech for students and student-athletes in need of culturally-sensitive, high-quality, cost-effective test prep. Because our subscription deliverables are funded through sustainable public funds, utilizing designated U.S. Title I Funds, S.C.H.O.O.L.S. is sustainable in the U.S. without continual philanthropy.
Why Startup Team Mentoring? Our goals for participation are simple. We have five objectives for participation, which are stated in order of priority. First, our solution seeks to complete an overall business strategy that needs assessment and analysis support for product and market fit to catapult our acceleration effectively and efficiently. Second, our solution is seeking mentor networking opportunities to scale the reach of our social impact. Third, our solution is the need for mentorship and coaching to enhance the professional development of our Leadership Team. Fourth, as our solution has become a relevant workforce development solution occasioning over 5,000 internships, we seek resource partners for youth employment opportunities across industries and sectors. Fifth, as most 2-year and 4-year collegiate academic or athletic scholarships, do not often cover summer school costs for attendance or summer housing; our solution seeks to broaden our peer-to-peer network to become a valued partner promoting economic stability and self-sufficiency for our customers as a thriving community of practice.
Mentorship Team: Joel Kanter, Grant David Gillham
