The company University Research & Review LLC aims to solve problems in higher education enrollment, student career choices, and employee career satisfaction through personalized recommendations based on assessments and proprietary algorithms. It plans to generate revenue through selling qualified student leads to colleges, receiving bonuses for student enrollments, advertising, fees for advisory services, and licensing of its "Best Value School" images. The company was founded in 2011 and launched its first websites in 2014, conducting over 1,100 advisory sessions. It projects rapid revenue growth from lead sales and tuition sharing to $22.5 million by 2020 with a pre-money valuation of $6.9 million and a $3 million capital raise.
1. APRIL 2015
UNIVERSITY RESEARCH & REVIEW, LLC
Offering a revolutionary, but proven approach
to solving several very big, related problems
2. How did the idea to start this company originate?
WHO? Our primary founder was CEO at a small, little known
university through 2010. One thing frustrated him to no end…
WHAT? His university had to buy leads (prospective enrollee
contact information) in order to increase enrollment. Every lead
vendor provided low-quality leads. Frustrated, he asked “Why
can’t someone do this better?”
WHY? Massive market, high need, weak competition, timely
opportunity (if the right people are involved).
3. Our distinguished team
4 college CEOs/presidents
5 PhDs
2 EdDs
1 provost
3 higher-ed entrepreneurs
2 former JD Power execs
2 former Wall St analysts
1 enrollment exec
Plus…
Barry Layne
Chief Marketing Officer
Thomas Laussermair, PhD
Chief Technology Officer
Kurt Sagovac, MS, MBA
Vice President
4. – 21 million students are enrolled in college.
– 10 million will change majors.
– 6 million will change schools.
– 3 million will enroll in colleges and universities each
year while…
– 30 million “think about” enrolling.
– 12 million adults will change careers each year.
– 8 thousand colleges, universities, career schools. Half
have enrollment issues.
– Each is a prospective customer.
A mammoth market
5. We address big, related problems
Problem: Falling or stagnant enrollment (at Colleges)
“Enrollment Goals Elude Many Colleges”
The Chronicle of Higher Education
Problem: Poor decision making (by Students)
• 50% college students change majors
• 33% change schools
Problem: Dissatisfaction with careers (by employees)
Typical U.S. worker now lasts 4.6 years on job - MarketWatch
6. Why is enrollment a problem?
Large colleges = marketing dynamos!
Smaller, low profile schools = marketing duds!
Over 40% of private colleges didn’t meet 2014
enrollment or tuition goals.
The Chronicle of Higher Education
7. Why is changing fields of study or
changing schools a problem?
Lost time
Lost money
Climbing debt
8. According to CareerBuilder
1. Only 26% work in the field they majored in at
college, and
2. 36% wish they’d majored in something different
1 + 2 = Opportunity
There are no credible, low cost, mass-market
“career change” advisory services.
Why is dissatisfaction with
careers a problem?
9. Our solutions
• For colleges
Highly qualified potential enrollees sourced and
prequalified by us.
• For students of all ages
Expert guidance in selecting Field of study/major and
college or university
• For career changers
Expert guidance to determine the most appropriate
field (and related academic path)
10. How we solve students’ problems
• Personalized recommendations
• Science + technology + experience: Personality
profile test suggests suitable vocational areas;
massive databases, proprietary algorithms
• Interaction, not just lists or rankings!
• Recommend major and 3-5 appropriate schools
11. Proprietary technology
17-pg PDF file available…
illustrating entire process,
starting with student, ending
with referral to 3-5 colleges.
12. How we solve schools’ problems
• We introduce highly qualified potential
enrollees to a school’s admissions office
- Our experts recommended the school
- School name is now familiar to student
- Detailed information on student provided to
admissions office
NOTE: These are potential enrollees who may not
otherwise find or apply to the recommended schools.
13. • Personalized recommendations
• Science + technology + experience:
Personality profile test suggests suitable
vocational areas; massive databases,
proprietary algorithms
• Interaction: advice from a human!
• Recommend most appropriate careers and
appropriate degrees and schools
How we solve career changers’
problems
14. Our Revenue Model
Sources of Revenue
• Leads. Send potential enrollees to schools.
• Bonus payments for enrollees (vs. cost per lead).
• Fee-based hands-on services (for students, career
changers)
• Advertising on our websites
• Data, reports, consulting (once data is mined)
• Licensing fees for Best Value School images
15. History of the company
• Founded November ’11
• Recruited exceptional Advisory Board ‘12
• Beta launch July ‘13 (technology proved inadequate)
• Additional capital from team; redo technology ‘14
• Launch BestValueColleges.org ‘14 (29 awards)
• Focus groups, market tests; publicity & TV interviews
• Launch urandr.org website October ’14
• 1,100+ advisory sessions; sign first lead buyers
18. Guesscast*
2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020
Revenue in 000s
Lead sales 200 1200 2500 6000 10000 15000
Tuition share 30 72 170 450 1200 3000
Advertising 0 100 250 500 750 1500
Fee-based services 0 60 300 750 1500 3000
230 1432 3220 7700 13450 22500
Expenses
G & A 240 720 850 1000 3000 5000
Marketing 600 1000 1000 1250 3000 5000
Testing (MAPP) 36 300 500 700 1000 2000
Misc 100 300 500 1000 2000 5000
976 2320 2850 3950 9000 17000
Pre-tax net -746 -888 370 3750 4450 5500
* Actual results will depend more upon amount of capital available
than execution risk. This scenario is with $3M capital.
19. 211 “A” LLC Units
65 “B” LLC Units (grants to Advisory Board
or earned in lieu of fees)
276 Units issued & outstanding (a/o 6.1.15)
Pre-money Valuation: $6.9 million
Money raise: $3 million
Form: LLC units (or can convert to C corp)
Capitalization; money raise
20. Contact person Joseph Schmoke
Founder/CEO
Phone 561-594-1110 office
561-289-4102 mobile (direct)
Email js@urandr.org
Websites www.urandr.org advisory (prospective students)
www.bestvaluecolleges.org awards (colleges)
Address University Research & Review LLC
3651 FAU Blvd., Suite 400-EE4
Boca Raton, FL 33431
Contact info