Scholly is a scholarship search platform that matches students with scholarships they qualify for. It was founded in 2013 by Christopher Gray, a Drexel University student, who struggled to find scholarships to fund his education. Gray won $1.3 million in scholarships and decided to create Scholly to help other students find scholarships more efficiently.
Scholly’s co-founders are Nick Pirollo and Bryson Alef. The company is based in Philadelphia and has a mobile app, the Scholly app, which is available on both iOS and Android.
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Since its appearance on Shark Tank, Scholly’s sales have skyrocketed, and it has had around $11 million in retail sales. According to our research online, Scholly is valued at around $1.5 million in 2023. However, the company was evaluated at around $260,000 at the time of Shark Tank.
Scholly uses a proprietary scholarship matching algorithm that filters and delivers a targeted list of scholarships to users based on their interests, accomplishments, and unique traits. The platform makes custom recommendations for postsecondary scholarships by matching students to the scholarships they personally qualify for.
Scholly’s Journey on Shark Tank
Scholly is a mobile app designed to help students find scholarships. Its founder, Christopher Gray, appeared on Shark Tank in season 6, episode 20, to pitch his idea to the sharks. Gray was seeking $40,000 in exchange for a 15% equity stake in his company.
During the pitch, Gray explained how he had won $1.3 million in scholarships to pay for his own college education. He also talked about the stress and difficulty he had experienced in finding and applying for scholarships. Gray believed that his app could help make the process easier for other students.
The sharks were impressed with Gray’s story and his pitch. They were also excited about the potential of Scholly. Mark Cuban and Lori Greiner both made offers, with Cuban offering $40,000 for a 15% stake and Greiner offering $40,000 for a 20% stake. Robert Herjavec and Daymond John both bowed out, with Herjavec saying that he didn’t think he could add value to the company and John saying that he didn’t have enough expertise in the education industry.
In the end, Gray accepted Greiner’s offer, and the two became partners. Greiner helped Gray refine the app and get it into the hands of more students. The app has since helped millions of students find scholarships and has had over $11 million in retail sales since appearing on Shark Tank.
Scholly’s App Features and Functionality
Scholly is a college scholarship app available for download on both Android and iOS devices. The app has been downloaded over a million times and has received positive reviews from users on both app stores.
The app’s main feature is its comprehensive scholarship database. Scholly’s algorithm matches students with scholarships based on their personal information, such as grade point average, race, gender, and state. The app also allows users to save scholarships they are interested in and track their application progress.
Scholly’s user-friendly interface and easy-to-use application process make it a popular choice for students looking for financial aid. The app’s database is regularly updated to ensure that users have access to the most current scholarship opportunities available.
In addition to its scholarship matching capabilities, Scholly also provides users with resources and tips for the college application process. The app’s “Essay Editor” feature helps students improve their writing skills by providing feedback on their essays.
Scholly’s User Base and Market Reach
Scholly is a scholarship search platform that has gained popularity in recent years due to its ability to match students with relevant scholarships. As of 2023, Scholly has over 2 million users, making it one of the most popular scholarship search engines in the United States.
Scholly’s user base includes students of all backgrounds, races, and genders. The platform is available in all 50 states of the USA, and it is used by students to search for scholarships that match their GPA, state, and other criteria. Scholly’s website is easy to use, and students can quickly find scholarships that match their needs.
Scholly’s Partnerships and Collaborations
Scholly has secured various partnerships and collaborations since its inception. These partnerships have helped the company to expand its reach and provide more opportunities to students.
Partnership with Bill Gates
In 2016, Scholly partnered with the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation to offer free access to the app to students in need. The foundation recognized the potential of Scholly in helping students find scholarships and awarded a grant to the company to expand its services.
Media Outlets
Scholly has been featured in various media outlets, including Forbes, CNN, and ABC News. These features have helped to increase awareness of the app and its services.
Facebook and Google
Scholly has also partnered with Facebook and Google to provide more opportunities to students. The company has integrated its services with Facebook and Google to make it easier for students to find scholarships.
Jesse Williams
Scholly has collaborated with Jesse Williams, an actor and activist, to provide more opportunities to students. Williams has been a vocal supporter of Scholly and has helped to promote the app to his followers.
Other Partnerships
In addition to the partnerships mentioned above, Scholly has also partnered with various organizations and companies to provide more opportunities to students. These partnerships include:
- United Negro College Fund (UNCF)
- Coca-Cola Scholars Foundation
- Dell Scholars Program
- Jack Kent Cooke Foundation
These partnerships have helped Scholly to expand its reach and provide more opportunities to students.
Scholly’s Competitors and Market Position
Scholly is a scholarship search platform that helps students find and apply for scholarships. While Scholly has garnered significant attention since its appearance on Shark Tank, it faces competition from other scholarship search platforms and services. Here are some of Scholly’s competitors and their market positions:
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Fastweb: Fastweb is a scholarship search platform that has been around since 1995. It claims to have helped over 50 million students find scholarships worth over $3.4 billion. Fastweb offers a free scholarship search service, as well as resources and tools for students and parents.
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Cappex: Cappex is a college search and scholarship search platform. It claims to have helped over 10 million students find colleges and scholarships. Cappex offers a free scholarship search service, as well as college search tools, reviews, and resources.
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Chegg: Chegg is an education technology company that offers a variety of services to students, including textbook rentals, online tutoring, and scholarship search. Chegg’s scholarship search service claims to have helped students find over $1 billion in scholarships. Chegg also offers resources and tools for college admissions, test prep, and internships.
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Scholarships.com: Scholarships.com is a scholarship search platform that claims to have helped over 3.7 million students find scholarships worth over $19 billion. Scholarships.com offers a free scholarship search service, as well as resources and tools for students and parents.
Despite facing competition from these and other scholarship search platforms and services, Scholly has carved out a niche for itself by focusing on providing a personalized scholarship search experience. Scholly’s algorithm matches students with scholarships based on their unique profile and qualifications, making it easier for them to find scholarships they are eligible for.
Scholly has also distinguished itself by partnering with organizations and companies to offer exclusive scholarships to its users. For example, Scholly has partnered with the Coca-Cola Scholars Foundation, the Jackie Robinson Foundation, and the Gates Millennium Scholars Program to offer scholarships to its users.
Scholly’s Scholarship Database and Matching Algorithm
Scholly is a scholarship search platform that helps students find relevant scholarships based on their eligibility criteria. It has a comprehensive database of over 20,000 scholarships from various sources, including private organizations, corporations, and non-profits. The platform also has a matching algorithm that uses the student’s profile information to match them with scholarships that fit their needs.
The scholarship database is regularly updated to ensure that students have access to the most up-to-date information on scholarships. The platform also provides links to the scholarship provider’s website, where students can find more information about the scholarship, including deadline and eligibility criteria.
Scholly’s matching algorithm is designed to help students find scholarships that fit their unique needs. The algorithm takes into account the student’s academic background, interests, and other information to match them with scholarships that they are most likely to win. The platform also provides guidance on how to apply for scholarships and tips on how to increase the chances of winning.
Scholly’s scholarship database and matching algorithm provide a comprehensive solution for students looking for scholarships. The platform helps students save time and effort by providing relevant scholarship information and matching them with scholarships that fit their needs. Overall, Scholly is a valuable resource for students looking to fund their college education.
Scholly’s User Reviews and Recommendations
Scholly has received mostly positive reviews from users who have used the platform to search for scholarships. Many users have recommended Scholly to others as a reliable source for finding scholarships. Some users have also praised the platform’s user-friendly interface, which makes it easy to navigate and search for scholarships.
However, some users have reported issues with the subscription model, which requires users to pay a monthly fee to access the platform’s full features. Some users have also reported difficulty in canceling their subscriptions. Despite these issues, many users have still found success in finding scholarships through Scholly.
Scholly’s Future Prospects and Growth
Scholly’s future prospects and growth look promising. The company has already had significant success, with $11 million in retail sales since appearing on Shark Tank. Scholly’s net worth has grown to $1.5 million in 2023, up from its original valuation of around $260,000.
One of the key factors driving Scholly’s growth is its ability to make the scholarship search process easier for students. Scholly’s platform matches students to scholarships they personally qualify for, using a variety of parameters such as gender, state, and ethnicity. This makes it easier for students to find scholarships that are relevant to them, increasing their chances of success.
Scholly has also expanded its services beyond scholarships. The company now offers essay review and request management services, helping students with the entire scholarship application process. This expansion into new areas could help Scholly continue to grow and expand its customer base.
Another factor driving Scholly’s growth is its partnerships with other organizations. For example, Scholly has partnered with Fortune 500 companies to offer scholarships to their employees and their families. Scholly has also partnered with Bryce Thompson, a top high school basketball recruit, to offer scholarships to other student-athletes.
Frequently Asked Questions
How does Scholly make money?
Scholly makes money by offering a premium version of its app. The premium version offers additional features such as personalized scholarship matches and essay editing. Users can subscribe to the premium version for a monthly or yearly fee.
Is Scholly successful?
Scholly has had success in helping students find scholarships and financial aid opportunities. Since its appearance on Shark Tank, the company has had around $11 million in retail sales. The company has also raised over $15 million in funding as of 2023.
Scholly Shark Tank appearance details?
Scholly appeared on Shark Tank seeking $40,000 in exchange for a 15% stake in the business. The valuation of Scholly was $260,000 at the time of Shark Tank. The founders of Scholly were able to secure a deal with Daymond John, who invested $40,000 for a 15% stake in the company.
Scholly CEO information?
The CEO of Scholly is Christopher Gray. He is a graduate of Drexel University and is known for winning $1.3 million in scholarships to fund his own education. He co-founded Scholly in 2013 to help other students find scholarships and financial aid opportunities.
Is Scholly still in business?
Yes, Scholly is still in business. The company is headquartered in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and continues to offer its mobile and web-based application to students.
How many downloads has Scholly had?
It is not clear how many downloads Scholly has had. However, the company has been featured in major news outlets such as Forbes and CNN, which suggests that it has a significant user base.
