ApplyBoard

ApplyBoard is a Canadian educational technology company founded in 2015 in Waterloo, Ontario, Canada.[1] It offers an "artificial intelligence-enabled recruitment platform" that helps international students apply for post-secondary studies abroad.[4] In 2019, Deloitte recognized ApplyBoard as one of Canada's fastest-growing tech company.[5]

ApplyBoard
TypePrivate
IndustrySoftware
FoundedWaterloo, Ontario, Canada (2015)
FoundersMartin Basiri
Meti Basiri
Massi Basiri[1]
Headquarters
Kitchener, Ontario, Canada[2]
Area served
Worldwide
Key people
Martin Basiri (co-founder and CEO)
Meti Basiri (co-founder and CMO)
Massi Basiri (co-founder and COO)
Number of employees
1,000 (June 2021)[3]
Websiteapplyboard.com

History

ApplyBoard was founded by three brothers Martin Basiri, Massi Basiri and Meti Basiri. Martin, originally from Iran, faced challenges while applying to study in Canada to complete a Masters Degree.[1] In 2018, the company maintained partnerships with 750 high schools, colleges and universities in Canada and the U.S. In 2019, the company had 170 employees and partnerships with 1,200 secondary and post-secondary institutions in North America; the company also moved its headquarters to its current location in Kitchener, Ontario.[6]

In 2020, the company had 500 employees and expanded its partnership with secondary and post-secondary institutions in United Kingdom. In February 2020, Jo Johnson, the former Minister of State for Universities, Science, Research and Innovation of the United Kingdom, joined the company as the chairman of the Advisory Board.[7]

In October 2020, the company announced a partnership with Times Higher Education.[8]

In November 2022, the company laid off 6% of its global workforce.[9]

Products and Services

Application Platform

ApplyBoard is centred around its application platform that has a listing of more than 1,500 colleges, universities, and K-12 schools in Canada, the United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia. Schools have a listing of their institutional details, programs, and application information. International students and recruitment partners, often called agents, then apply directly through the ApplyBoard platform to these programs.[10]

ApplyProof

In October 2019, ApplyBoard launched a secondary technology platform called ApplyProof that supports peer-to-peer verification of Letters of Acceptance (LoA) from a university. The aim being to establish trust in the documents being shared with immigration and visa officials.[11]

The offerings from ApplyProof were expanded in May 2021 to include verification of English language proficiency tests through separate partnerships with IELTS and Pearson Education who administer TOEFL and PTE scores, respectively.[12]

Awards and recognition

ApplyBoard was named Canada’s fastest growing technology company in 2019 by Deloitte as it ranked #1 on the accounting firm’s Fast 50 list.[13] ApplyBoard was listed in Deloitte’s Fast 50 in 2020 by ranking #2 in Canada and #14 in North America.[14]

ApplyBoard was named to LinkedIn’s list of Top Startups in Canada for 2020 that recognizes Canada’s top private companies that have remained “resilient during a tumultuous time, continuing to attract investment, employees and attention.”[15]

Controversy

Described as "international-student recruiting on steroids", ApplyBoard has been criticized for the consequences of not adequately supervising agents under Canadian legislation, specifically when agents sell "empty promises" (incomplete or inaccurate guidance) or biased information to applicants.[16] Co-founder Meti Basiri insisted in 2022 that the company’s standards are sufficient to meet the regulations and that ApplyBoard is now fielding fewer complaints thanks to its efforts to weed out bad actors.[17]

References
  1. "Edtech's newest unicorn, ApplyBoard, lands $1.4B valuation with fresh funding". TechCrunch. May 5, 2020. Retrieved November 6, 2020.
  2. "Kitchener, Ont., startup hits $1B valuation to become Canada's latest 'unicorn'". CTV News. May 5, 2020. Retrieved November 6, 2020.
  3. "Study Abroad EdTech ApplyBoard Triples Valuation To $3.2 Billion With $300 Million Fundraise". Forbes. Retrieved June 15, 2021.
  4. Simpson, Meagan (May 5, 2020). "ApplyBoard raises $100 million CAD, claims $2 billion 'unicorn' valuation". BetaKit. Retrieved October 17, 2021.
  5. "Technology Fast 50 program". Deloitte. Retrieved November 6, 2020.
  6. Bean, Bill (April 18, 2019). "New office, new growth for ApplyBoard". Communitech News. Retrieved August 12, 2021.
  7. "Kitchener's ApplyBoard appoints brother of British PM as chairman". CTV News. February 13, 2020. Retrieved November 6, 2020.
  8. "THE announces partnership with ApplyBoard". The Pie News. Retrieved November 6, 2020.
  9. Sandstrom, Alison (November 29, 2022). "Another Kitchener-based tech company confirms layoffs". CTV News. Retrieved September 22, 2023.
  10. Sternlicht, Alexandra. "Study Abroad EdTech Company ApplyBoard Raises $55 Million Series C Extension". Forbes. Retrieved August 30, 2021.
  11. "ApplyProof and Pearson PTE partnership to help Canada-bound students". Communitech. Retrieved August 30, 2021.
  12. "Applyproof partners with Pearson and ETS". thepienews.com. Retrieved August 30, 2021.
  13. "ApplyBoard named Canada's fastest-growing technology company by Deloitte". Communitech News. November 7, 2019. Retrieved September 1, 2021.
  14. "Technology Fast 50 winners 2020". Deloitte Canada. Retrieved September 1, 2021.
  15. "LinkedIn Top Startups 2020: The 10 Canadian companies on the rise". www.linkedin.com. Retrieved September 1, 2021.
  16. Mark Kelley (October 13, 2022). "Sold a Lie". The Fifth Estate.
  17. Matthew Halliday (November 2, 2022). "The murky world of unregulated international student recruiters". University Affairs.
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