FindU's 2026 Playbook
Our goals for 2026
What we took from 2025
Last year we went from a Figma prototype to an actual product. We built an MVP over winter break, got into Startup Studio, brought on a team, and raised early funding.
But the biggest takeaway wasn’t any of that. It was realizing how much we were doing without real systems in place.
When FindU was just me and Wilson, that was fine. We had full context on everything, decisions were fast, and nothing got lost. Once we started bringing on other people, that broke down. Things we assumed were obvious weren’t. Knowledge that lived in our heads didn’t transfer.
We also spent a lot of energy on marketing that didn’t really convert. Some content got views, but views didn’t turn into users in any consistent way. We were moving fast, but not always in the right direction.
Going into this year, we’re being more deliberate. We’re putting systems in place for how we build, how we communicate, and how we decide what to work on. Not because we want process for the sake of it, but because we want the work to actually add up over time.
Where we’re focused
Getting more students on FindU
This is the main focus right now.
We want more students using FindU, and we’re trying to be intentional about how we get there.
One of the biggest channels is working directly with high schools. Over the past few months, we’ve had conversations with counselors about what they’re actually dealing with. The reality is that most counselors are responsible for hundreds of students — sometimes 400 to 1. They don’t have time to sit with every junior and walk through their college list. They need tools that give them visibility without requiring more hours they don’t have.
That’s what we built. A way for counselors to see what their students are exploring, what they’re interested in, what they might be overlooking, without having to chase down every student individually.
Now we’re focused on getting it into more schools. If you’re a counselor or know one who might be interested, we’d love to chat.
Content is the other channel. Posts like this, resources for students and counselors, things that are useful and build trust over time rather than just grabbing attention.
Working with colleges
The other part of our model is universities.
We think there’s a better way for colleges to connect with students who are genuinely interested, not just names on a purchased list, but students who’ve explored the school and see it as a fit.
This semester we want to get our first paid partnership on the college side. We’re not trying to close a bunch of deals. We just want to get one right and learn what actually matters to them.
How to help
We can't do this alone. If you know someone who could help, a counselor, someone at a university, anyone who works with students — we'd really appreciate an intro. Or if you have ideas, feedback, whatever. We're figuring this out and we're open to help from wherever it comes.