Fiveable

Fiveable operates as a social learning platform focused on the high school student market, providing tools and community to enhance academic productivity and confidence. The company was established in 2018 by co-founders Amanda DoAmaral and Tán Ho. DoAmaral's background as a high school AP History teacher in Oakland, California, directly informed the company's creation. After leaving the classroom, she began livestreaming study sessions for former students, which quickly grew in popularity and revealed a significant market need, sparking the business's formation. Ho, a community-building expert, and DoAmaral met on Reddit, combining their skills to grow the platform.

The company's primary client base consists of high school students, initially with a strong focus on those preparing for Advanced Placement (AP) exams. Over time, its scope has broadened to include resources for SAT and ACT prep, as well as general high school subjects and topics like financial literacy. The business model centers on creating a student-led online environment that offers both academic content and peer-to-peer support, described as the virtual "hallways" of the high school experience. Initially, the platform was entirely free, prioritizing user growth over monetization, a strategy supported by investors. It has since moved towards a freemium model, with premium features available through a subscription.

Fiveable's platform offers a comprehensive suite of study tools. This includes a vast library of content, such as study guides, practice questions with detailed explanations, and course overview cheatsheets for numerous AP subjects and beyond. A key feature is its emphasis on social accountability and collaborative learning. In 2021, Fiveable acquired Hours, a virtual studying platform, to integrate single- and multi-player study rooms. These rooms allow for live text and video chat, shared task lists, and focus-enhancing tools like timers and music playlists. The platform also has a large and active Discord community and has incorporated gamification elements, such as trivia games and competitive events, to boost engagement.

The company has secured significant financial backing, raising a total of $14.2 million through multiple funding rounds. A pivotal moment was the $10 million Series A round in September 2021, led by Union Square Ventures with participation from notable investors like Owl Ventures, Serena Williams' Serena Ventures, and Chelsea Clinton's Metrodora Ventures. A core tenet of Fiveable's operational philosophy is its "by and for students" approach, which involves hiring a large number of paid student interns across all departments to ensure the product roadmap stays aligned with student needs.

Keywords: social learning, AP test prep, virtual study groups, student community, edtech, peer-to-peer learning, high school education, Amanda DoAmaral, exam preparation, online courses, study tools, Series A funding, Union Square Ventures, Hours acquisition, remote learning, student productivity, collaborative learning, academic resources, SAT prep, ACT prep, educational equity