Washington, D.C.-based edtech startup Calolo, previously known as CollegeAppz Inc., has raised a $100,000 friends-and-family round to bring their mobile education software product to two D.C. schools — Mary Center, a nonprofit in D.C., and Transcend Academy, a private test prep company.
Calolo's software application works to help students prioritize and organize tasks related to applying to higher education institutions. One way that it does this is by sending automated reminders and encouraging messages to a user's smartphone. Calolo can also assist a student in searching for a preferred university by filtering options based on a number of filters. Within the platform, users can build an activity resume and even do SAT/ACT prep exercises.
The startup was recently accepted into the Village Capital accelerator program, which is a 501c3 non-profit that operates business development programs for entrepreneurs who are tackling global issues and initiatives.
In addition, the startup is a part of the Camelback Venture program, as its founder Tina Tran Neville was named a 2015 Camelback Venture Fellow. Camelback says that it provides access to, “social, financial and intellectual capital.”
“Calolo is a planning tool that helps student achieve important life milestones. The technology solution involves other people in the process to motivate and encourage students along to completion,” Calolo chief of operations Anna Mason told DC Inno.
Mason added, “Initially, Calolo is rolling out as a planning tool to help students get into college. Calolo provides a template checklist that you can modify. Then, Calolo sends motivation SMS messages and emails to encourage completion. You can invite people to be on your 'Team' to help you complete.”
Here's an infographic that Calolo provided DC Inno:
