Empowerly

Overview

Empowerly is an education technology company specializing in college admissions counseling and career guidance. Founded in 2014 by Hanmei Wu and Changxiao Xie, the company aims to make college admissions guidance accessible and effective through a combination of proprietary algorithms and expert human counseling. Headquartered in San Francisco, California, Empowerly has successfully raised $30 million from major investors including Conductive Ventures and Goodwater Capital. The platform offers a range of personalized services, helping students gain admission to top universities by leveraging data-driven strategies and experienced advisors.

Recent Developments

In February 2024, Empowerly raised $15 million in its latest funding round led by Conductive Ventures. The raised capital is designated for the enhancement of the company’s artificial intelligence and machine learning capabilities to optimize product offerings and student outcomes.
By June 2024, Empowerly launched a new initiative called the AI Scholar Program, developed by alumni from Stanford and MIT. This program aims to equip students from grades 7 through 12 with skills to apply AI in real-world projects.
Empowerly's significant growth has been acknowledged by its inclusion in the Inc. 5000 list of fastest-growing companies, ranking 995th overall and 19th in the education sector.
Recently, Empowerly introduced a subscription-based model offering standardized test preparation, college counseling, and internship matching services, which aims to expand its customer base and enhance outreach.

Attribute	Information
Founding Date	2014
Headquarters	San Francisco, CA
Founders	Hanmei Wu, Changxiao Xie
Revenue	$10 million
Key Investors	Conductive Ventures, Goodwater Capital, FJ Labs, Scrum Ventures
Industry	Education Technology
Number of Employees	114

Early History

Empowerly was co-founded by Hanmei Wu and Changxiao Xie in 2014 with a vision to revolutionize college admissions through an integrated counseling platform. Initially, the company focused on addressing inefficiencies within traditional college preparatory models by leveraging data analytics to tailor student guidance. Its core mission has been to democratize access to college advisory services, which were traditionally available only to the affluent. Over its early years, Empowerly expanded its counselor network and developed comprehensive data-driven evaluation tools to assess and enhance students' academic and extracurricular profiles.

Company Profile and Achievements

Empowerly operates on a B2C model offering a range of products, including individual and package-based counseling services tailored to students’ specific needs. The platform combines AI with professional guidance; counselors use Empowerly's proprietary scoring system to provide timely, customized advice for college applications. Significant Achievements include:

Empowerly celebrated a 98% success rate in college admissions for its clients, distinguishing itself in the competitive edtech sector.
It has formed partnerships with top academic institutions to keep its advisory strategies aligned with current trends and requirements.
Empowerly successfully diversified its service offerings with the introduction of innovative programs, such as startup and AI internships, facilitating real-world experiences for students.

Current Operations and Market Position

Empowerly continues to enhance its market position by expanding product offerings and utilizing advanced technologies. It is recognized for its significant contribution to education technology, offering solutions that make college preparation less daunting and more strategic. Empowerly's market strategy focuses on leveraging its proprietary data to offer personalized guidance catered to each student’s strengths and needs. It maintains a competitive edge by continuously updating its educational content to align with changing academic prerequisites and expectations.

Conclusion

Empowerly represents a pioneering force within the education technology sector, effectively bridging the gap between traditional educational guidance and modern technological solutions. By delivering customized college and career advisory services at scale, Empowerly significantly impacts students’ educational journeys. Moving forward, Empowerly is poised to expand its technological capabilities further, explore additional service areas, and strengthen its position in the market as a leading provider of student-centered educational solutions.