View details of this raise on Seedstage

San Francisco, CA

Developing a peer-to-peer mentorship platform for student career guidance.

• Market Opportunity: Addressing a $12 billion market in student guidance and institutional recruiting.
• Advisor Network: Over 500 peer advisors from 160+ colleges onboarded.
• Pilot Programs: Launching pilot programs with high schools in the Bay Area.
• Revenue Streams: Three revenue streams: marketplace, recruiting partnerships, and AI tools.
• Experienced Leadership: Led by a growth marketer with a successful track record in scaling ventures.

TalkShop is expanding its platform to address the gap in college decision guidance by connecting high school students with current college students for authentic and affordable advice. The company aims to provide a solution to the lack of support that many students face when making significant educational decisions. By offering a peer-to-peer mentorship model, TalkShop allows high school students to book sessions with college advisors from their target schools and majors, gaining insights into academics, career options, and campus life. This approach not only helps students make informed decisions but also creates a self-sustaining ecosystem where students can transition from mentees to mentors as they advance in their educational and professional journeys.

The funds raised will be used to enhance TalkShop’s platform capabilities, focusing on engineering, go-to-market strategies, and AI infrastructure development. This investment will support the company’s growth by enabling nationwide student acquisition campaigns and the development of AI tools that will transform the platform into a comprehensive career guidance resource. With a strong advisor network already in place, TalkShop is well-positioned to capture a significant portion of the $12 billion market for student guidance and institutional recruiting, addressing the increasing demand for authentic student connections in a post-pandemic environment.

Company Info

TalkShop is a peer-to-peer mentorship platform connecting high school students with college advisors for affordable guidance.

TalkShop is a peer-to-peer mentorship platform designed to bridge the gap in college decision guidance by connecting high school students with current college students. This platform offers affordable, experience-based advice on academics, career options, and campus life, allowing high schoolers to make informed decisions about their future. As users progress from high school to college and into their careers, they can transition from mentees to mentors, contributing to a self-sustaining ecosystem that evolves with each session.

The platform operates on a dual revenue model, targeting both individual students and educational institutions. TalkShop generates revenue through commissions on peer advising sessions and aims to expand into subscription services offering personalized career mapping and education matching tools. Additionally, it provides enterprise solutions for colleges and employers to connect authentically with students, leveraging real conversation data to enhance recruitment and engagement strategies.