Flashnotes operates an online, peer-to-peer marketplace where college students sell and buy course-specific study materials such as study guides, notes, flashcards, video tutorials and live video help. The company markets a Pays2Study approach that lets students monetize their own study materials while helping peers improve grades. Flashnotes was founded in Ohio in 2010 and is headquartered in Boston, Mass. The business targets higher-education users and aims to make students more active participants in their own learning. As part of growth and distribution plans, Flashnotes has entered a Strategic Alliance with Barnes & Noble College to promote the platform at partner schools and on digital platforms. The company confirmed an investment from Barnes & Noble Education through its college business as part of that partnership. Flashnotes operates an online marketplace where college students buy and sell course-specific study notes, multimedia tutorials and other study help. The platform supports WebRTC for video content and integrates with Evernote to simplify uploads; handwritten notes in PDF remain the most popular content. Sellers keep 70% of sales (Flashnotes takes 30%), with typical prices around $9 and a range of $1.99–$63; top contributors have earned thousands on the site. The company enforces a zero-tolerance policy for posting exams and positions the service as supplemental to attending class. Flashnotes plans to use new funding to expand across the U.S., targeting roughly 300 institutions in the next year. Flashnotes operates a marketplace where students buy and sell class-specific study material including notes, flashcards and tutorial videos. Students set their own prices and can earn up to 70% on each sale; a crowd-sourced rating system and a 100% money-back guarantee aim to maintain quality. The company debuted video tutorials in Spring 2013 and plans to launch more comprehensive real-time video offerings in Fall 2013. Flashnotes recently closed a $1.5M seed round extension to scale the marketplace and expand offerings. In parallel it acquired NoteUtopia, a California-based online community, to add universities, class-specific content and student members, with integration slated for completion by Fall 2013. The team added Jeff Kushmerek as Chief Product Officer and Kate Adams as VP of Marketing to support growth. Flashnotes operates an online marketplace that allows college students to upload, price and sell notes, flashcards and other course materials, with sellers keeping 80% of each sale and Flashnotes taking a 20% commission. The platform uses community ratings to surface high-quality note-takers, offers a money-back guarantee for dissatisfied buyers, and allows buyers to follow top sellers. At the time of the raise Flashnotes was live at roughly 75 U.S. schools and reported 1,000% month-on-month adoption growth, while under 10% of active users were selling. The company reports that 82% of uploaded notes are typed (18% scanned), an average note price of $7.88 (range $1.99–$36.00), and that some sellers have earned over $500 per week. Flashnotes also said over 65% of its buyers have increased their GPAs after using the platform. Future plans include a nationwide rollout, adding video, real-time student connections and additional technologies, and pursuing a Series A next year.

Total raised

$7M

Funding rounds

4

Latest round

Series A

Latest activity

Feb 2014