Backrs
Backrs is a Cleveland-based education technology company providing 1:1 coaching for high school and college students on college admissions, academic performance, career planning, and job placement, delivered via live video, text support, and an AI-powered platform through subscription and package pricing.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2021
- HeadquartersCleveland, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Backrs does
Backrs is a Cleveland, Ohio-based education technology company founded in 2021 that provides 1:1 coaching for high school students, college students, and recent graduates targeting academic performance, college admissions, career planning, internship acquisition, and first-job placement. The company delivers services entirely virtually through Zoom-based live coaching sessions, text and email support, and an AI-powered platform that supplies an always-available assistant coach between human touchpoints, along with personalized student playbooks, resume and major-selection tools, and ROI/outcome dashboards. Its coaching roster includes alumni of Bain, Google, McKinsey, Ernst & Young, Tesla, and Harvard/Northwestern/Notre Dame, and the firm is advised by former Tesla CXO Jerome Guillen and former McKinsey Senior Partner Tim Welsh.
The product is structured in two tiers: (1) targeted coaching packages priced $150-$899 covering discrete milestones (Blueprint, SAT/ACT Game Plan, Start College Strong, Selecting the Right Major, Landing an Internship, Securing Your First Job), and (2) a Performance Coaching monthly subscription at $199/month providing ongoing dedicated-coach access, monthly 1:1 video sessions, unlimited text support, and quarterly planning calls. All offerings include access to the AI-powered platform tools.
The business model combines a direct-to-consumer self-serve platform (grow.backrs.com) with a sales-assisted conversion motion via free 20-minute consultation calls, supported by content marketing, a TEDx feature by founder Andy Bobowski, and a dedicated B2B partner channel (partners.backrs.com) targeting schools, districts, and nonprofits. The company has served 2,000+ students and parents with a 4.9 parent rating, and is scaling institutional distribution through a national partnership with the Institute for Educational Leadership (IEL) to embed Backrs coaching into Community Schools. The company is privately held, founder-led, and operates as Backrs, Inc. with 11-50 employees.
Backrs firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Backrs
- Legal name
- Backrs, Inc.
- Website
- https://backrs.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2021
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Backrs is a Cleveland-based education technology company providing 1:1 coaching for high school and college students on college admissions, academic performance, career planning, and job placement, delivered via live video, text support, and an AI-powered platform through subscription and package pricing.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Backrs industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Education and Career Coaching Services
- NAICS
- Educational Support Services (61171), Educational Services (611), Educational Support Services (611710), Professional and Management Development Training (611430)
- SIC
- Services-Educational Services (8200)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Supported Employment & Job Coaching (EDAKANAE)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Mentorship, Coaching & Office-Hours Platforms (MPACALAG), Advanced Study Skills & Executive Function Coaching for High Achievers (time management, workload planning) (EDANAKAJ), Executive Function & Learning Coaching (Organization/ADHD Coaching) (EDAJALAI)
Keywords
Where Backrs is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Cleveland
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Markets served
Backrs business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Operations
Revenue model
- Performance Coaching Subscription: Monthly subscription model providing ongoing coaching with one monthly 1:1 video call, unlimited text support, and full platform access. Customers pay $199/month with no long-term contracts and cancel-anytime flexibility.
- Targeted Coaching Packages: One-time and multi-session packages targeting specific goals: Blueprint ($150-299), SAT/ACT Game Plan ($299), Start College Strong ($299), Selecting the Right Major ($299), Landing an Internship ($899 for 3 sessions), Securing Your First Job ($899 for 3 sessions). Each package includes 1:1 live coaching, text/email support, and access to AI-powered platform tools.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Monthly | Performance Coaching: $199/month subscription with full coaching support |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Blueprint Session: One-time college and career planning session |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Single Session Packages: SAT/ACT, Start College Strong, Major Selection |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Multi-Session Packages: Internship and First Job programs |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels6 records
Backrs product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Backrs provides 1:1 academic, college, and career coaching to high school students, college students, recent graduates, and their families, delivered virtually via Zoom by expert human coaches supported by an AI-powered coaching platform. Its offerings consist of two tiers: an ongoing monthly Performance Coaching subscription ($199/month) and one-time Targeted Coaching packages ($150-$899) covering milestones such as the Blueprint session, SAT/ACT prep, college transition, major selection, internship acquisition, and first-job placement. The service is marketed primarily direct-to-consumer through a self-serve booking platform and free consultation calls, with a secondary partnership channel serving schools, districts, and nonprofits.
Product overview
Backrs is a 1:1 academic, college, and career coaching platform designed for students in grades 9-12 through early career. The platform offers a two-tiered product structure: (1) Targeted Coaching packages (Blueprint, SAT/ACT Game Plan, Start College Strong, Selecting the Right Major, Landing an Internship, Securing Your First Job) providing 1-3 focused sessions for specific goals; and (2) Performance Coaching, an ongoing monthly membership providing continuous access to a dedicated coach with regular video sessions, unlimited text support, and full platform access. All offerings include 1:1 live coaching sessions, text and email support, and access to AI-powered platform tools.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Blueprint A 75-minute 1:1 coaching session where students clarify academic and professional goals, assess progress, and build a personalized college and career success plan, including a step-by-step action plan and one year of access to Backrs' coaching tools. Priced at $150 promotional / $299 regular.
- SAT/ACT Game Plan A targeted test preparation coaching package that helps students approach the SAT/ACT with confidence and optimize scores for stand-out college applications, including a personalized test strategy and focused study plan. Priced at $299 per package.
- Start College Strong A coaching session for rising college freshmen to plan courses, extracurriculars, and daily routines for a positive, career-launching college experience. Priced at $299 per session.
- Selecting the Right Major A coaching session helping students select an interest-aligned major that maximizes career opportunity and earning potential, including analysis of the financial return of available majors. Priced at $299 per session.
- Landing an Internship A 3-session coaching package providing expert insights, tailored strategy, and personalized opportunities to help students gain a meaningful edge in the internship cycle, including targeted employer lists, networking strategy, resume/LinkedIn audit, AI tools, and ongoing coach support. Priced at $899 for 3 sessions.
- Securing Your First Job A 3-session coaching package providing expert guidance and proven strategies to help recent graduates win job offers they are excited about, covering career-launch support similar to the internship program. Priced at $899 for 3 sessions.
- Performance Coaching An ongoing monthly coaching relationship with a dedicated success coach providing relationship-driven support throughout the student's journey, including one monthly 1:1 video call, unlimited text support, 90-day quarterly planning calls, ongoing family engagement, and full access to Backrs' AI-powered tools. Priced at $199/month with no long-term contracts and cancel-anytime flexibility.
Quantifiable outcome
- Trusted by 2,000+ students and parents with a 4.9 parent rating
Companies that use Backrs
Customer profileNamed customers4 records
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Backrs technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration5 records
Feature4 records
Backrs partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Institute for Educational Leadership (IEL)coreNational partnership combining IEL's leadership network with Backrs' scalable postsecondary and career support models. Designed to strengthen Community Schools, Districts, and nonprofit partners by integrating Backrs' coaching technology and expertise into IEL's network of educational institutions.
- Stand TogetherminorFeatured in Stand Together's coverage of future-of-work topics, with Backrs highlighted as an example of how to help young people build life-ready skills that today's economy rewards. Thought leadership placement to reach education-focused audiences.
- TEDxAshevilleminorBackrs founder Andy Bobowski delivered a TEDx talk titled 'The Missing Piece of the Education Puzzle' exploring why social capital is critical for student success. Platform for thought leadership and brand awareness among education and career-focused audiences.
- WNC BusinessminorLocal business publication coverage of Backrs' partnership with a local university to help under-resourced students build networks, plans, and skills for social mobility. Regional media coverage highlighting community impact.
Scale indicators2 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Backrs competitors and assessment
Company assessmentEmerging players
- Tallo: Tallo is a digital talent marketplace connecting students to colleges, scholarships, and career opportunities. Comparable in the career-discovery and college-readiness slice of Backrs' offering, with an emphasis on matching to opportunities.
- MentorCruise: MentorCruise is a 1:1 mentorship platform pairing learners with industry experts across career and tech topics. Comparable in offering structured, paid, 1:1 expert coaching with ongoing text/video engagement — a model parallel to Backrs' Performance Coaching.
- Career Karma: Career Karma provides career coaching, mentorship, and job-matching for people transitioning into tech careers. Comparable in the career-launch coaching and 1:1 advisor model targeting early-career outcomes, a segment Backrs addresses via its Internship and First Job packages.
Direct peers
- Signet Education: Signet provides private college counseling, tutoring, and test prep with 1:1 expert advisors. Closely comparable in human-expert-led, paid coaching for high school students navigating admissions and academics.
- Cialfo: Cialfo is a college and career readiness platform used by schools and counselors globally. Directly comparable in serving students through both D2C and B2B (school/district) channels, with a focus on college applications and career exploration.
- CollegeVine: CollegeVine offers AI-driven college admissions counseling, tutoring, and essay review for high school students. Directly comparable as a digital-first college coaching platform targeting the same segment with a similar mix of human expert advice and software tools.
- PrepScholar: PrepScholar provides online test prep (SAT/ACT) and admissions prep with personalized study plans and tutoring. Overlaps with Backrs on SAT/ACT Game Plan coaching and college readiness positioning.
- Scholly (Scholly App): Scholly matches students to scholarships and provides admissions support tools. Comparable in targeting college-bound students with personalized, outcome-oriented coaching and planning tools.
Broad incumbents
- Varsity Tutors: Varsity Tutors is a large, established online tutoring and test prep platform owned by Nerdy. Overlaps with Backrs on SAT/ACT prep and college counseling as part of a much broader K-12 and adult learning portfolio.
- Khan Academy: Khan Academy is a free, large-scale online learning platform covering test prep, college admissions, and career content. Adjacent competitor providing lower-cost, software-only alternatives that may compress demand for paid 1:1 coaching like Backrs'.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Backrs social profiles
Digital presenceBackrs financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Backrs leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles8 records
Backrs funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds1 record
Investors1 record
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Backrs 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 Backrs
What does Backrs do?
Backrs provides 1:1 academic, college, and career coaching to high school students, college students, recent graduates, and their families, delivered virtually via Zoom by expert human coaches supported by an AI-powered coaching platform. Its offerings consist of two tiers: an ongoing monthly Performance Coaching subscription ($199/month) and one-time Targeted Coaching packages ($150-$899) covering milestones such as the Blueprint session, SAT/ACT prep, college transition, major selection, internship acquisition, and first-job placement. The service is marketed primarily direct-to-consumer through a self-serve booking platform and free consultation calls, with a secondary partnership channel serving schools, districts, and nonprofits.
Is Backrs a public or private company?
Backrs is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Backrs founded?
Backrs was founded in 2021. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Backrs based?
Backrs is headquartered in Cleveland, United States, in the North America region.
How does Backrs make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Performance Coaching Subscription is the primary driver. The others are targeted Coaching Packages.
Who are Backrs's main competitors?
Emerging players on record are Tallo, MentorCruise and Career Karma. Direct peers are Signet Education, Cialfo, CollegeVine, PrepScholar and Scholly (Scholly App). Broad incumbents are Varsity Tutors and Khan Academy.
Does Backrs have an API?
No public API is recorded for Backrs.
What industry is Backrs in?
Backrs's product category is Education and Career Coaching Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EDAKANAE, Supported Employment & Job Coaching, with a secondary code of MPACALAG, Mentorship, Coaching & Office-Hours Platforms. Its NAICS code is 61171 and its SIC code is 8200.