What Brain Battle does

Brain Battle is a mobile test-preparation application built around gamified learning mechanics for the SAT and ACT standardized tests. Founded in 2025 by Joe Poole while at Washington University's Olin Business School, the application differentiates itself through real-time head-to-head competitions, leaderboards, and ELO-style player rankings that convert solitary study into a multiplayer experience. The company reports a proprietary question bank of more than 100,000 items, an order of magnitude larger than competitor libraries of approximately 7,000 questions, suggesting content depth as a primary axis of differentiation. Distribution is direct-to-consumer via the iOS App Store and Google Play.

The business model is freemium. The free tier provides baseline access to the platform, and the Pro Plan is priced at $16 per month. There is no disclosed enterprise, school, or institutional channel, and no named institutional investors. The company is headquartered in the United States, with the application globally accessible through mobile app stores. Early traction metrics include approximately 1,800 pre-launch sign-ups, $20,000+ in non-dilutive funding from the Holekamp Seed Fund (April 2025), and inclusion on the Poets&Quants Disruptive Business School Startups 2025 list. Headcount is reported in the 1-10 range. There is no public disclosure of paid conversion rates, revenue, retention metrics, AI/ML capabilities, or institutional partnerships.

Name

Brain Battle

Legal name

Brain Battle, Inc.

Website

https://brainbattle.app

Company type

Private

Founded year

2025

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Brain Battle is a mobile application that delivers gamified SAT and ACT test preparation through real-time head-to-head competitions, leaderboards, and ELO rankings. It serves high school students preparing for college-admissions standardized tests via a freemium direct-to-consumer subscription model.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Test Preparation Mobile Applications

NAICS

Exam Preparation and Tutoring (611691)

akta.pro primary industry

STEM Assessment, Badging & Competition Platforms (EDAFANAJ)

Keywords

• SAT test preparation
• ACT test preparation
• Gamified learning app
• Mobile quiz platform
• Edtech mobile app

Headquarters

HQ city

St Louis

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Software

Cost components

Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Pro Subscription: Monthly subscription at $16/month providing unlimited lives, double rewards, legendary badges, question guides, detailed explanations, and enhanced streaks. Basic app is free to use with limited features.
2. In-App Purchases: Premium content, ad-free experiences, and enhanced features available as in-app purchases. Per Terms of Service, all sales are final and non-refundable.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Brain Battle operates a freemium mobile application that delivers gamified SAT/ACT test preparation through real-time head-to-head competitions, ELO rankings, leaderboards, badges, streaks, and a 100,000+ practice question bank. The free tier provides basic access, while the Pro Plan ($16/month) unlocks unlimited lives, double rewards, legendary badges, question guides, and detailed explanations.

Product overview

Brain Battle operates as a single mobile application with a freemium business model. The core Brain Battle app provides free access to 100,000+ SAT/ACT practice questions, real-time competitive matches, social features, and basic progress tracking. The Pro Plan subscription ($16/month) adds unlimited lives, double rewards, exclusive badges, question guides, and detailed explanations as premium add-ons to the base experience.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Brain Battle Mobile App Gamified SAT/ACT test preparation mobile application for high school students, featuring real-time head-to-head study matches, leaderboards, rewards, badges, streaks, and a 100,000+ practice question bank with detailed explanations. Free tier with limited lives and rewards; available on iOS App Store and Google Play.
• Brain Battle Pro Plan Premium monthly subscription tier ($16/month) for the Brain Battle mobile app, providing unlimited lives, double rewards, exclusive legendary badges, question guides with detailed explanations, and enhanced streak tracking on top of the free base experience.

Quantifiable outcome

• 1,800 pre-launch sign-ups achieved

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Khan Academy: Nonprofit offering free official SAT prep in partnership with the College Board. Direct competitor for Brain Battle's target audience but differentiated by being free rather than gamified and freemium.
• Magoosh: Online test prep platform offering SAT, ACT, GRE, and other exam prep via subscription. Closely comparable business model and target customer, though without Brain Battle's gamification layer.
• PrepScholar: Personalized online SAT/ACT prep with adaptive learning and customized study plans. Direct competitor with established brand and similar student demographic.
• The Princeton Review: Long-established test prep company offering SAT/ACT courses, tutoring, and practice materials. Direct competitor at the premium end of the market Brain Battle targets as underserved.
• UWorld: Test prep platform with extensive question banks across SAT, ACT, and professional exams. Direct competitor on content depth and practice-driven learning approach.

Broad incumbents

• Kaplan: Large incumbent test prep and education company offering SAT/ACT courses, tutoring, and admissions services. Broad portfolio overlap with Brain Battle's SAT/ACT focus.
• Varsity Tutors: Large tutoring and test prep marketplace offering SAT/ACT prep among many subjects. Comparable target customer and broader educational portfolio.
• Quizlet: Widely used study platform with gamified learning features (flashcards, matching games, streaks). Comparable gamification approach and Gen Z user base, though broader than test prep.
• Duolingo: Mobile-first gamified learning platform with strong retention mechanics, streaks, and leaderboards. Comparable product-led gamification DNA applied to a different subject area, relevant as a model for mobile learning engagement.

Emerging players

• Testive: Online SAT/ACT prep combining adaptive software with live coaching. Comparable digital-first test prep approach targeting similar student demographic.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Brain Battle