Tasseled - College Life & Credit Management

A New Platform Aims to Simplify College Credit Transfers

Vipul Patel experienced firsthand the difficulties of transferring college credits when moving from Florida Institute of Technology to Boston University. He discovered discrepancies in equivalency tables – the resources universities use to determine credit acceptance from other institutions – prompting him to seek a resolution.

Patel successfully appealed to Boston University, demonstrating that the school acknowledged coursework from institutions that, in turn, accepted credits from FIT. This initial success motivated him and his peers to pursue similar appeals for previously lost credits.

Introducing Tasseled: A Student-Focused Solution

The positive response and the statistic that 39.4% of transfer students lose all previously earned credits fueled Patel’s vision. He and Nelson Huang subsequently launched Tasseled, a free platform designed to assist students in planning their college paths with a focus on credit optimization.

Currently in a private beta phase accessible via a waitlist, Tasseled is supported by All Turtles, the product studio responsible for mmhmm and Carrot. The company has secured $750,000 in funding since its inception in 2018.

The platform empowers students to identify required credits for graduation and explore more affordable alternatives, such as community college courses, to fulfill those requirements. Recognizing the challenges faced by transfer students, Tasseled specifically facilitates the integration of credits earned from diverse educational sources – including online courses and local community colleges – into a traditional four-year university plan.

Target Audience and Key Features

Tasseled is geared towards both current college students and high school students preparing for higher education. The team has compiled and organized crucial information regarding application deadlines and tuition costs, aiming to streamline the planning process.

“We’re already expecting a bunch of kids [who] are 17 and 18 to make a multi-hundred-thousand-dollar financial decision,” Patel explained. “And, that’s kind of crazy. They’re simply making life-altering decisions with no information and our hope is that we can just close that.”

The platform’s emphasis on community colleges underscores a commitment to financial inclusion. By reducing the stigma associated with these institutions, Tasseled aims to encourage students to leverage local schools and minimize reliance on student loans. Furthermore, it supports students transferring *from* community colleges, ensuring their earned credits are properly recognized.

Evolution and Future Monetization

While a definitive business model is still under development, Tasseled is considering referral fees from community colleges for students enrolled through the platform as a potential revenue stream.

The startup’s journey has involved several iterations. It initially functioned as an appeals tool, assisting students in reclaiming lost credits. A subsequent pivot towards a solution for colleges to expedite transfer decisions proved unsuccessful due to the impact of COVID-19 on higher education sales cycles. Ultimately, Tasseled refocused on its core mission: helping students reduce college expenses.

Origins and Support

Patel credits the Boston University campus environment for Tasseled’s early development. Collaboration with Director Ziba Cranmer at BU Spark, a student entrepreneurship initiative, provided valuable guidance on product development and user engagement.

Cranmer facilitated an introduction to Phil Libin, a Boston University alumnus and co-founder of All Turtles, at a Spark event. Patel emphasized the significant impact of both Cranmer and Libin in maintaining a student-centric approach to product development.

“In startup mode, you feel like there’s every single avenue to go down, and both [of them] were the most impactful people at making sure I stay clear about building products for students,” he said.