UPchieve
UPchieve is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that delivers free, 24/7 on-demand online tutoring and college counseling to low-income U.S. middle and high school students through a volunteer-driven mobile and web platform.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2016
- HeadquartersNew York, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What UPchieve does
UPchieve is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 2016 that provides free, on-demand online tutoring and college counseling to low-income middle and high school students (grades 6-12) across the United States. The organization operates a mobile application (iOS/Android) and web platform that connects eligible students with trained volunteer tutors in under five minutes, available 24 hours per day across 15+ subjects including math, science, reading, writing, college applications, and SAT/ACT preparation. Headquartered in Brooklyn, New York with a fully remote staff of 11-50, UPchieve's stated mission is to close the college enrollment gap between low- and high-income students.
The platform is built as a self-serve product in which students sign up, verify eligibility through school or zip-code criteria, and are matched with volunteer tutors via real-time chat, an interactive whiteboard, a collaborative document editor, and optional voice communication. The technology infrastructure is composed of standard SaaS providers: Microsoft Azure for content hosting, Cloudflare for content delivery and security, Aiven for managed database services, and Twilio for SMS and email communications. Distribution combines direct-to-student acquisition (mobile and web self-signup) with institutional channels through School Official partnerships, nonprofit partner programs, and corporate volunteering engagements.
UPchieve generates no revenue from students; the service is permanently free. All operating revenue is sourced from charitable donations, foundation grants, and corporate giving. Disclosed institutional funders include Y Combinator (2021 seed funding of approximately $225,000), the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, and the CTIA Wireless Foundation, which awarded UPchieve the top $100,000 Catalyst grant in September 2024. The organization holds a Four-Star Rating from Charity Navigator and a Platinum Seal of Transparency from Candid (GuideStar), and has been recognized by Forbes and TIME. To date, UPchieve reports serving over 60,000 students and matching more than 190,000 on-demand tutoring requests across all 50 states.
UPchieve firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- UPchieve
- Legal name
- UPchieve Inc.
- Website
- https://upchieve.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2016
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- UPchieve is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that delivers free, 24/7 on-demand online tutoring and college counseling to low-income U.S. middle and high school students through a volunteer-driven mobile and web platform.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
UPchieve industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Online Tutoring Services
- NAICS
- Exam Preparation and Tutoring (611691), Educational Support Services (611710), Educational Support Services (61171)
- SIC
- Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Social Services (8300)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Tutoring & Homework Help Marketplaces (On-Demand) (EDAFAIAG)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Adaptive Learning & Personalized Instruction Software (EDAJAMAE), Enrollment Yield, Matriculation & Onboarding Platforms (EDAFAMAG)
Keywords
Where UPchieve is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- New York
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
UPchieve business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others
Revenue model
- Charitable Donations: Revenue comes from charitable donations from individuals and foundations who support the mission to democratize academic support. UPchieve is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.
- Foundation and Grant Funding: Funders include Y Combinator and the Gates Foundation. Additional grants from CTIA Wireless Foundation and other organizations supporting education equity.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Freemium | Free | Free tier for all eligible students |
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels6 records
UPchieve product offering
Product offeringCore offering
UPchieve is an ed-tech nonprofit that operates a mobile and web platform connecting low-income middle and high school students (grades 6-12) with volunteer tutors and college counselors for free, on-demand academic support. The platform provides personalized 1-on-1 sessions 24/7 across 15+ subjects including math, science, reading, writing, SAT/ACT prep, and college applications, with students matched to a live tutor in under 5 minutes via an interactive whiteboard and document editor with optional voice chat.
Product overview
UPchieve is an ed-tech nonprofit organization offering a single unified platform for free online tutoring and college counseling. The platform consists of a mobile app and web application that connects low-income middle and high school students (grades 6-12) with volunteer tutors and college counselors. Students can access personalized 1-on-1 support across 15+ subjects including Math, Science, Reading, Writing, College Applications, and SAT/ACT Prep. The platform features a virtual whiteboard and document editor with optional voice chat for real-time collaboration. All services are provided free of charge 24/7, with students able to connect with tutors in under 5 minutes. The organization is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit funded by charitable donations.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- UPchieve Free Online Tutoring and College Counseling Platform A mobile and web-based platform that connects low-income middle and high school students (grades 6-12) with volunteer tutors and college counselors for free, on-demand 1-on-1 academic support available 24/7 across 15+ subjects including Math, Science, Reading, Writing, College Applications, and SAT/ACT Prep.
- UPchieve Mobile App A mobile application for iOS and Android devices that enables low-income students to access free on-demand tutoring and college counseling, sign up, verify eligibility, and connect with a live tutor in under 5 minutes.
Quantifiable outcome
- 97% of students agree that UPchieve helped improve their course grades
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use UPchieve
Customer profileNamed customers5 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
UPchieve technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature4 records
UPchieve partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Partner SchoolscoreSchools partner with UPchieve to provide free tutoring access to their students. Teachers can create classes and monitor student usage.
- Nonprofit Partner OrganizationsminorNonprofit programs can partner with UPchieve to provide academic support to their participants.
- Microsoft AzurecoreCloud infrastructure provider for content hosting including whiteboard content and transcripts.
- CloudflarecoreContent delivery network (CDN), DDoS mitigation, and web application firewall services.
- AivencoreManaged database hosting for account data, session metadata, data analytics and reporting.
- TwiliocoreEmail and SMS communication services for user outreach.
- GooglecoreVideo conferencing for user interviews and usability testing; G Suite tools for scheduling; Google SSO for login.
Scale indicators9 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
UPchieve competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Paper: Subscription-based online tutoring service sold primarily to school districts, providing on-demand 1:1 tutoring and writing review. Comparable to UPchieve on target customer (K-12 students) and delivery model (live online tutoring), differing mainly in paid B2B school-district channel.
- Schoolhouse.world: Free, volunteer-led peer tutoring platform launched by Khan Academy that offers on-demand small-group tutoring and college admissions help to students worldwide. Closest direct peer to UPchieve given the free, volunteer-driven, online-tutoring model.
- Brainfuse: Provides online tutoring, homework help, and writing assistance primarily through public library and school-district contracts, with on-demand live tutors. Operates in the same free/subsidized K-12 tutoring category and competes for similar institutional partnerships.
Emerging players
- Preply: Global online tutoring marketplace with strong presence in language and academic subjects. Comparable on live online 1:1 tutoring platform mechanics, though focused more on adults and language learning than on free K-12 support.
- TutorMe: Online tutoring platform offering on-demand 1:1 tutoring across many subjects, sold to institutions and individuals. Comparable on live, on-demand online tutoring and institutional sales motion, but on a paid B2B/B2C model.
- TutorOcean: Online tutoring marketplace offering 1:1 live and asynchronous tutoring across K-12 and higher education. Comparable on live online tutoring and marketplace mechanics but operates on a paid commercial model with North American focus.
Broad incumbents
- Tutor.com: Long-established online tutoring service owned by The Princeton Review, providing on-demand 1:1 tutoring primarily to public library cardholders and schools. Comparable on live, on-demand online tutoring delivery and K-12 learner focus.
- Khan Academy: Large nonprofit offering free educational content, practice, and increasingly live tutoring (via Schoolhouse.world) across K-12 and college. Overlaps with UPchieve on free K-12 learning support and is the dominant brand in the equity-focused learning space.
- Varsity Tutors: Large commercial online tutoring and test-prep marketplace serving K-12 and college students, with school and corporate partnerships. Comparable in offering live 1:1 online tutoring across many subjects but operates on a paid B2C/B2B model rather than a free volunteer model.
- Wyzant: Online marketplace connecting students to private tutors across subjects and grade levels. Comparable on online 1:1 tutoring delivery and K-12 audience, differing on paid freelance tutor model and absence of a mission/equity overlay.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
UPchieve social profiles
Digital presenceUPchieve compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance1 record
UPchieve financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
UPchieve leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles2 records
UPchieve funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds4 records
Investors3 records
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
UPchieve M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about UPchieve
What does UPchieve do?
UPchieve is an ed-tech nonprofit that operates a mobile and web platform connecting low-income middle and high school students (grades 6-12) with volunteer tutors and college counselors for free, on-demand academic support. The platform provides personalized 1-on-1 sessions 24/7 across 15+ subjects including math, science, reading, writing, SAT/ACT prep, and college applications, with students matched to a live tutor in under 5 minutes via an interactive whiteboard and document editor with optional voice chat.
Is UPchieve a public or private company?
UPchieve is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was UPchieve founded?
UPchieve was founded in 2016. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is UPchieve based?
UPchieve is headquartered in New York, United States, in the North America region.
How does UPchieve make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Charitable Donations are the primary driver. The others are foundation and Grant Funding.
Who are UPchieve's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Paper, Schoolhouse.world and Brainfuse. Emerging players are Preply, TutorMe and TutorOcean. Broad incumbents are Tutor.com, Khan Academy, Varsity Tutors and Wyzant.
Does UPchieve have an API?
No public API is recorded for UPchieve.
What industry is UPchieve in?
UPchieve's product category is Online Tutoring Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EDAFAIAG, Tutoring & Homework Help Marketplaces (On-Demand), with a secondary code of EDAJAMAE, Adaptive Learning & Personalized Instruction Software. Its NAICS code is 611691 and its SIC code is 8200.