At Best Startup California we track over 300,000 Californian startups and over 1,500,000 people who hold key positions in these companies. We use this directory of startups to highlight top employees, founders and organisations we think deserve more appreciation than they are currently getting.
We’ve ranked the top 101 Universities companies in California, United States. The companies, startups and institutions listed in this article are all exceptional companies, well worth a follow. We have included links to their websites, socials and CrunchBase (if you’re interested in their financials).
We selected the organisations listed in this article based on:
- Track record
- Executive leadership
- Market share
- Innovation
- ESG rating
Our Data – We source our data from OSINT (open source intelligence) and public directories such as Crunchbase, SemRush and many more. The data from these sources should be treated with a degree of caution and verified yourself.
Top Universities Companies & Startups (California, United States)
CYPHER LEARNING
CYPHER LEARNING is a company that specializes in providing learning platforms for schools, businesses, and entrepreneurs around the world.
Founder(s): Graham Glass
Location: San Francisco, California, United States
Industries: E-Learning, Education, Software, Universities
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University of California, Los Angeles
University of California, Los Angeles is a public research university offering a variety of academic programs.
Founder(s): Edward Augustus Dickson, Ernest Carroll Moore
Location: Los Angeles, California, United States
Industries: Education, Higher Education, Universities
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Hotchalk
HotChalk helps great universities be great online.
Founder(s): Edward Fields
Location: Campbell, California, United States
Industries: EdTech, Education, Universities
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Singularity University
Singularity University is a benefit corporation that provides educational programs, innovative partnerships, and a startup accelerator.
Founder(s): Barney Pell, Bob Richards, Peter Diamandis, Raymond Kurzweil, Reese Jones, Rob Nail, Salim Ismail, Sonia Arrison, Yuri van Geest
Location: Moffett Field, California, United States
Industries: Education, Social Entrepreneurship, Universities
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StudySoup
StudySoup is an exchange where students can upload or download class notes.
Founder(s): Jeff Silverman, Sieva Kozinsky
Location: San Francisco, California, United States
Industries: Content, Education, Marketplace, Publishing, Universities
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Work4
Work4 offers a recruitment app that allows companies to find, engage and recruit individuals via Facebook.
Founder(s): Gautier Machelon, Matt Brown, Matthew Brown, Stéphane Le Viet
Location: San Francisco, California, United States
Industries: Apps, Career Planning, Human Resources, Recruiting, Social Media, Social Recruiting, Software, Universities
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NameCoach
NameCoach aims to solve a single, common problem: name mispronunciation, especially in important life settings.
Founder(s): Praveen Shanbhag
Location: Stanford, California, United States
Industries: Education, Higher Education, Information Technology, Internet, Software, Universities
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Claremont McKenna College
Claremont McKenna College is a Career Planning company.
Founder(s):
Location: Claremont, California, United States
Industries: Career Planning, Education, Higher Education, Universities
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California State University
California State University is a public university system in California
Founder(s): Earl Warren
Location: Long Beach, California, United States
Industries: Education, Higher Education, Universities
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Stanford University
Stanford University is a teaching and research university that focuses on graduate programs in law, medicine, education, and business.
Founder(s): Steve Blank
Location: Stanford, California, United States
Industries: Education, Higher Education, Universities
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University of California, San Diego
Let there be light.
Founder(s): Roger Revelle
Location: La Jolla, California, United States
Industries: Continuing Education, Education, Higher Education, STEM Education, Universities
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Edunav
Edunav helps improve student retention and on-time degree completion while minimizing wasted credit hours.
Founder(s): Isaac Segal
Location: Cupertino, California, United States
Industries: E-Learning, Higher Education, Universities
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Engrade
Engrade accelerates achievement by enabling educators to connect the right learning resources to the right student at the right time.
Founder(s): Bri Holt, Zach Posner
Location: Santa Monica, California, United States
Industries: Education, Software, Universities
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University of California Berkeley
University of California, Berkeley is a public institution for higher education.
Founder(s): Adam Sterling, David Kirn
Location: Berkeley, California, United States
Industries: Continuing Education, Education, Higher Education, Universities
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UC Berkeley College of Engineering
Berkeley Engineering is ranked among the top three engineering schools in the world.
Founder(s): Shawn Schaffert
Location: Berkeley, California, United States
Industries: Education, Knowledge Management, Universities
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Empowerly
Empowerly is a platform for personalized college and career guidance
Founder(s): Changxiao Xie, Hanmei Wu
Location: San Francisco, California, United States
Industries: Education, Higher Education, Information Technology, Internet, Universities
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DeZyre
DeZyre is building a new kind of university that delivers on the promise of job-skills
Founder(s): Binny Mathews, Omair Aasim, Omair Aasim
Location: Redwood City, California, United States
Industries: Education, Training, Universities
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Alma Campus
Social-academic college network geared towards helping students meet other students on their college campus and plan their academic paths.
Founder(s): Akshay Ramaswamy, Chetan Rane
Location: Stanford, California, United States
Industries: Social Media, Social Network, Universities
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San Draw
San Draw was founded by two Stanford University alumni, Gary Chang and Michael Lu, in 2014.
Founder(s): Gary Chang, Michael Lu
Location: San Jose, California, United States
Industries: 3D Printing, Dental, EdTech, Education, Medical Device, Universities
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Sesh
Vanford, Inc. is the company behind Sesh, a mobile app that instantly connects students with peer tutors at their same university!
Founder(s): Daniel Rossett
Location: San Francisco, California, United States
Industries: Education, Mobile Apps, Universities
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University Of California San Diego School Of Medicine
University Of California San Diego School Of Medicine is a school.
Founder(s): Joseph Stokes III
Location: San Diego, California, United States
Industries: Higher Education, Medical, Universities
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Wiselike
The Q&A Platform For Professionals
Founder(s): Darius Salehipour, David Oliveros, Kyu Lee
Location: San Francisco, California, United States
Industries: Career Planning, Content, Education, Professional Networking, Q&A, Universities
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ScaleFunder
ScaleFunder helps with nonprofit digital fundraising to boost a company’s potential.
Founder(s): Andrew Dowds, Michael Greenberg, Robert Jadon
Location: Los Angeles, California, United States
Industries: Crowdfunding, Humanitarian, Non Profit, Software, Universities
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CollegeBand
Let’s get the band back together.
Founder(s): Reed Seerman
Location: Beverly Hills, California, United States
Industries: Education, Internet, Music, Universities
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Benefunder
The marketplace for research funding
Founder(s): Christian Braemer, Craig Hagopian, Gert Lanckriet, Larry Mahan
Location: San Diego, California, United States
Industries: Financial Services, Marketplace, Universities
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University of Southern California
University of Southern California is a private research university offering opportunities for interdisciplinary study and collaboration.
Founder(s): Robert Maclay Widney
Location: Los Angeles, California, United States
Industries: Education, Higher Education, Universities
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StudyRoom
StudyRoom is the social learning platform for college students
Founder(s): Amadeus Malca, Emerson Malca, Peter Butler, Pindi Albert, Zach Johnston
Location: Pomona, California, United States
Industries: Education, Internet, Social Media, Social Media Management, Universities
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Archer Education
Archer Education – Reach, enroll and retain today’s generation of learners
Founder(s): Bree Nguyen, Brian Hartnack, Jerry Slavonia, Michael Talarczyk, Stephen Caldwell
Location: Los Angeles, California, United States
Industries: Education, Marketing, Search Engine, Universities
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SpaceBasic Inc.
AI enabled Saas platform automating everyday tasks and communication within universities and student housing communities, in one workspace.
Founder(s): Aiden Bingham, Indu Navar, Madhavi Shankar
Location: Los Altos, California, United States
Industries: Communities, Higher Education, Real Estate, SaaS, Software, Universities
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EntryWire
We’re building a university-specific job platform for students/alumni interested in startup jobs.
Founder(s): Jai Prasad, Kendall Cole
Location: San Francisco, California, United States
Industries: Professional Services, Recruiting, Universities
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Liveboard – Interactive whiteboard
LiveBoard – Interactive whiteboard for online tutoring
Founder(s): Grigori Eyramjyan, Tigran Barseghyan, Yerem Khalatyan
Location: San Francisco, California, United States
Industries: Collaboration, E-Learning, Education, Universities
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Stanford Graduate School of Business
Stanford GSB is a business management school that creates ideas that deepen and advance understanding of management.
Founder(s): Herbert Hoover
Location: Stanford, California, United States
Industries: Education, Higher Education, Knowledge Management, Universities
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Uloop
Uloop is an online marketplace and news source for college students.
Founder(s): Corey Cleek, Denis Hiller, Ryan MacCarthy, Scott Lewis
Location: San Mateo, California, United States
Industries: News, Publishing, Universities
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University of California
The University of California (UC) is a public university system in the state of California, with 10 campuses serving over 250,000 students.
Founder(s):
Location: Oakland, California, United States
Industries: Communities, Education, Training, Universities
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HBCU.vc
HBCU.vc is a not-for-profit organization connecting and equipping the next generation of black and brown tech innovators and investors.
Founder(s): Hadiyah Mujhid
Location: San Francisco, California, United States
Industries: Non Profit, Universities, Venture Capital
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GA 25
GA 25 is an integrated ecosystem of impact investing and civic development.
Founder(s): Kareem El-Sisi
Location: Los Angeles, California, United States
Industries: Impact Investing, Social Entrepreneurship, Universities
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BrightCrowd
Connected and Engaged Alumni Networks
Founder(s): Andreas Zoellner, T.J. Duane
Location: Redwood City, California, United States
Industries: Alumni, Collaboration, Professional Networking, Software, Universities
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Abroadler
Social network for study abroad students.
Founder(s):
Location: South San Francisco, California, United States
Industries: Education, Social Network, Universities
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Design Your Dorm
Design Your Dorm is an online 3D interior design tool that helps students collaborate with their roommates in designing their dorm room.
Founder(s): Bryce Widelitz
Location: Los Angeles, California, United States
Industries: Universities
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SACAP
SACAP is a leading tertiary education provider of academically rigorous and accredited qualifications.
Founder(s):
Location: Claremont, California, United States
Industries: Education, Higher Education, Universities
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USC Marshall School of Business
The USC Marshall School of Business is the business school of the University of Southern California.
Founder(s):
Location: Los Angeles, California, United States
Industries: Corporate Training, Education, Universities
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QuestBridge
QuestBridge is a non-profit program for low-income students.
Founder(s): Ana McCullough, Michael McCullough
Location: Palo Alto, California, United States
Industries: Education, Finance, Non Profit, Universities
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UStrive
UStrive is an online platform that connects high school and college students with a mentor to help them succeed.
Founder(s): Michael J. Carter
Location: Milpitas, California, United States
Industries: Non Profit, Universities
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Ashford University
Ashford University provides affordable, innovative, high-quality learning opportunities and degree programs for students.
Founder(s):
Location: San Diego, California, United States
Industries: Higher Education, Universities
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California State University San Marcos
California State University San Marcos helps community students and educators with advanced academic programs and services for the career.
Founder(s): Bill W. Stacy
Location: San Marcos, California, United States
Industries: Higher Education, Online Portals, Universities
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Siembra
Working with Stanford Researchers we have designed a virtual platform connecting all stakeholders in the college recruiting matrix.
Founder(s): Felicitas Rubalcava, Monica Favela Sunzeri, Timothy Michael Kral
Location: Stanford, California, United States
Industries: College Recruiting, Digital Media, EdTech, Education, Mobile, Universities
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Information Sciences Institute
The Information Sciences Institute (ISI) is a world leader in research.
Founder(s):
Location: Marina Del Rey, California, United States
Industries: Education, Universities
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CSUB
CSUB is a public university that specializes in offering a diverse range of educational courses to its students.
Founder(s):
Location: Bakersfield, California, United States
Industries: Education, Higher Education, Universities
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California State University Channel Islands
California State University Channel Islands is an educational institute that provides bachelor’s, master’s degree & course certifications.
Founder(s):
Location: Camarillo, California, United States
Industries: Education, Higher Education, Universities
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Laguna College
Laguna College of Art and Design provides students with educational and career development in a friendly environment.
Founder(s):
Location: Laguna Beach, California, United States
Industries: Architecture, Education, Universities
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Accepted.com
Accepted.com has been guiding and advising college and graduate school applicants since 1994.
Founder(s): Linda Abraham
Location: Los Angeles, California, United States
Industries: Education, Higher Education, Universities
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Fanbase
Fanbase is an online crowdsourced almanac of professional and college athletes.
Founder(s): Nirav Tolia, Prakash Janakiraman, Sarah Leary, Victor Echevarria
Location: San Francisco, California, United States
Industries: Crowdsourcing, Universities, Web Hosting
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Vision International University
Vision International University is a religious institution offering ministry training, distance education & online academic degree programs.
Founder(s):
Location: Ramona, California, United States
Industries: Education, Training, Universities
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SlugBooks
SlugBooks compares prices on textbooks, the same way sites like kayak and hipmunk compare prices on travel.
Founder(s):
Location: Santa Cruz, California, United States
Industries: E-Commerce, Education, Universities
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UC San Diego Extension
UC San Diego Extension is an online research university for community leaders and professionals.
Founder(s):
Location: La Jolla, California, United States
Industries: Education, Higher Education, Universities
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eHuman
eHuman is developing the next generation of 3D interactive dental and medical education software to help students learn better
Founder(s): Eric Herbranson, Kevin Montgomery, PhD
Location: Fremont, California, United States
Industries: Dental, EdTech, Education, Medical, Software, Universities
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CueBack
CueBack is an application that uses AI and a reimagination of alumni engagement.
Founder(s):
Location: Palo Alto, California, United States
Industries: Alumni, Education, Information Technology, Universities
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Campus Technology
Campus Technology is an information source that provides in-depth coverage on the technologies influencing colleges and universities.
Founder(s):
Location: Irvine, California, United States
Industries: Information Services, Information Technology, Universities
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The Daily Bruin
The Daily Bruin has served as UCLA’s premier source of campus news for students and members of the university.
Founder(s):
Location: Westwood, California, United States
Industries: News, Publishing, Universities
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EMAS Pro
Education Systems, Inc. (ESI) provides customizable, solution-oriented, higher education enrollment management software and best practices
Founder(s):
Location: La Jolla, California, United States
Industries: Content, Finance, Internet, Semantic Search, Software, Universities
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Anyadir Education
Empowering Universities to Recruit Socia
Founder(s): Duleep Deosthale, Manish Katyan
Location: Mountain View, California, United States
Industries: Education, Universities
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Admissionado
Admissionado help you achieve bigger, better, and bolder versions of success.
Founder(s):
Location: Beverly Hills, California, United States
Industries: Consulting, Education, Universities
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LA Hacks
LA Hacks is the premiere collegiate hackathon hosted by Sigma Eta Pi and Bruin Entrepreneurs. 1300+ Hackers and $20,000+ prizes
Founder(s): Hadar Dor
Location: Los Angeles, California, United States
Industries: Association, Collaboration, Contests, Education, Universities
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University Access
UA works with business educators to create graduate-level business education programs.
Founder(s):
Location: Los Angeles, California, United States
Industries: Business Information Systems, Education, Information Technology, Universities
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NUresume
NUresume is the first Student Resume Network for college students to create a free online resume or portfolio page and connect with
Founder(s): Reena Jadhav, Uday Walia
Location: Pleasanton, California, United States
Industries: Career Planning, Social Media, Universities
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EditingWorm
EditorWorm offers customized communication services that ensure consistency and polish for your business.
Founder(s): Katrina Oko-Odoi
Location: San Diego, California, United States
Industries: Business Information Systems, Education, Market Research, Photo Editing, Universities
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Sofia University
Sofia University is an education company that offers different types of courses.
Founder(s):
Location: Costa Mesa, California, United States
Industries: Education, Professional Services, Universities
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MyChances
MyChances provides college admissions predictions, essay feedback, and college rankings for students, parents and counselors.
Founder(s): Brent Pirruccello, James Pirruccello
Location: Palo Alto, California, United States
Industries: Analytics, Big Data, Consulting, EdTech, Education, Software, Universities
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Find Me A School
Find Me A School is an online resource for students seeking information on courses to further their education.
Founder(s):
Location: Irvine, California, United States
Industries: Education, Online Portals, Universities
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HelloBrain
A self-described “eBay for high-technology intellectual capital
Founder(s):
Location: Santa Clara, California, United States
Industries: Education, Information Technology, Universities
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UCLA Institute of the Environment and Sustainability
UCLA Institute of the Environment and Sustainability offers degree programs for environmental science.
Founder(s):
Location: Los Angeles, California, United States
Industries: Education, Environmental Engineering, Higher Education, Sustainability, Universities
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Grossmont-Cuyamaca Community College District
Grossmont-Cuyamaca Community College District is an educational institution for students.
Founder(s):
Location: El Cajon, California, United States
Industries: Education, Training, Universities
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Ethernet Alliance
Ethernet Alliance is a non-profit consortium of technology firms and universities geared at solving ethernet problems.
Founder(s):
Location: Mountain View, California, United States
Industries: Marketing, Non Profit, Universities
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CollegeWikis
CollegeWikis is a group messaging and information platform for students.
Founder(s): Joe DiPasquale
Location: San Francisco, California, United States
Industries: Developer Tools, Education, Information Technology, Messaging, Social Media, Universities
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California State University
California State University offers nursing programs, art, international, online and degree programs.
Founder(s):
Location: Long Beach, California, United States
Industries: Higher Education, Training, Universities
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NoteCycle
Notecycle is a company that provides notes for free for college students.
Founder(s):
Location: Irvine, California, United States
Industries: Education, Knowledge Management, Universities
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University of California, Irvine Extension
University of California, Irvine Extension is an Education company.
Founder(s):
Location: Irvine, California, United States
Industries: Education, Universities
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Norco College
Norco College is a community college and providing educational opportunities to students.
Founder(s):
Location: Norco, California, United States
Industries: Education, Higher Education, Universities
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SFSU Cesar Chavez Student Center
Cesar Chavez Student Center is a non-profit auxiliary organization and an internationally recognized higher education institution.
Founder(s):
Location: San Francisco, California, United States
Industries: Education, Higher Education, Non Profit, Universities
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Paso Robles Schools
Paso Robles Schools is a public school district based in Paso Robles, northern San Luis Obispo County, California, United States.
Founder(s):
Location: Paso Robles, California, United States
Industries: Education, Higher Education, Universities
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College Bounty
College Bounty is a mobile platform that targets student’s discretionary spending power while increasing local retailer’s visibility.
Founder(s): Dujon C Smith, Onur Sahin, Thomas Johnson
Location: Los Angeles, California, United States
Industries: Mobile Advertising, Universities
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Softprofiles
Softprofiles is a platform that helps higher education institutions manage and guide students from enrollment to job placement.
Founder(s): Moussa Dao
Location: Redwood City, California, United States
Industries: Alumni, Cloud Computing, Collaboration, Education, Social Media, Universities
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John Paul the Great Catholic University
John Paul Catholic University is an applied learning community where student creativity is nurtured and their imagination is cultivated.
Founder(s):
Location: Escondido, California, United States
Industries: Education, Higher Education, Universities
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Soapmaking Studio
Soapmaking Studio is an online education industry firm.
Founder(s):
Location: Lemon Grove, California, United States
Industries: E-Learning, Education, Training, Universities, Vocational Education
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Hutster
Helping students sublet their apartments
Founder(s): Sean Crowe, Thomas Gorczynski
Location: San Francisco, California, United States
Industries: Education, Marketplace, Real Estate, Universities
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Geotrio
Geotrio is company which provides courier clothing pick-up, laundry, and dry cleaning services.
Founder(s):
Location: San Francisco, California, United States
Industries: Audio, iOS, Mobile, Tourism, Travel, Universities
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TileItOn
TileItOn is a web-based platform allowing students create and subscribe to virtual boards within and across campuses.
Founder(s): Amit Aggarwal
Location: Los Angeles, California, United States
Industries: Brand Marketing, Sales, Universities
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PHD College Funding Solutions
PHD College Funding Solutions focuses on providing high-quality college funding solutions to meet and even exceed expectations.
Founder(s):
Location: Concord, California, United States
Industries: Education, Finance, Funding Platform, Universities
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DealQuad
DealQuad is a group buying company targeted at college campuses, started by serial entrepreneur Jeff Appelbaum in October of 2010.
Founder(s): Jeff Appelbaum
Location: Los Angeles, California, United States
Industries: Customer Service, Service Industry, Universities
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NIU College
NIU College offers training to students that will enable them to financial stability, career advancement and personal enrichment.
Founder(s):
Location: Woodland Hills, California, United States
Industries: Education, Higher Education, Skill Assessment, Training, Universities
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Mardan School
Mardan School improve the academic and emotional well-being of child who struggles with learning, social, and/or emotional challenges.
Founder(s):
Location: Irvine, California, United States
Industries: Education, Therapeutics, Universities
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uRoomates.com
College Roommate Matching Service
Founder(s): Stacy Phillippe, Trent Mervine
Location: San Francisco, California, United States
Industries: Apps, Market Research, Private Social Networking, Social Media, Universities
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Aldar Academy
Aldar Academy was established in 1975 as private, non-profit, non-public school. We specialize in meeting the needs of handicapped students.
Founder(s):
Location: Sacramento, California, United States
Industries: Education, Universities
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YUHSG
YUHSG university has been dedicated to melding the ancient traditions of Jewish law & life with the heritage of Western civilization.
Founder(s):
Location: Palo Alto, California, United States
Industries: Education, Primary Education, Secondary Education, Universities
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mystartupXX
The mystartupXX program is a one-of-its-kind accelerator that was created to increase
Founder(s): Kim Davis King, Lada Rasochova
Location: La Jolla, California, United States
Industries: Education, Higher Education, Universities
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Mounza
On-Campus Recruiting Opportunities
Founder(s): Kalyan Vishnubhatla, Sharran Deora
Location: Fremont, California, United States
Industries: Career Planning, College Recruiting, Education, Recruiting, Social Recruiting, Universities
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Virtual Chapter
Salesforce for College Campuses.
Founder(s): Josh Green, Josh Green, Robert Maylack
Location: San Francisco, California, United States
Industries: Cloud Computing, Finance, Internet, Universities
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Sustainable Works
Non-profit environmental education that activates sustainable practices and behaviors to foster a safe, healthy and equitable world.
Founder(s):
Location: Santa Monica, California, United States
Industries: Education, Incubators, Non Profit, Universities
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Splash – Campus Stories
Splash – Campus Stories is an online networking site that helps users communicate and share stories on and about their college campus.
Founder(s): Christian Richman, Tavares A Robinson Greenberg
Location: Sunnyvale, California, United States
Industries: Social, Universities, Video
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Austin University
Austin University is a nonprofit organization to operate by the Bureau for private postsecondary education.
Founder(s):
Location: San Ramon, California, United States
Industries: Education, Higher Education, Universities
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ClassFAQs
ClassFAQs is a community-based platform that enables college students to get-together to rate, review, and discuss important topics.
Founder(s):
Location: San Jose, California, United States
Industries: Education, Recruiting, Universities
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