During the COVID-19 pandemic, college students faced new challenges. Remote learning was tough, managing money was harder, and staying connected was also a struggle. From this experience, the idea for Wikolo Inc was born. Co-founded by Grant Bruno and Deepak Sharma, this startup aims to help students by providing all the support they need in one place.
Wikolo Inc’s co-founder, Grant Bruno, saw these struggles firsthand and wanted to make a difference. The result was a super app designed to make student life easier. Let’s explore how this idea grew into a mission to support students where other platforms often fall short.
Inside Wikolo: An In-Depth Q&A
Q: What was the “aha” moment that led to your startup idea?
A: The “aha” moment for Wikolo came during the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic. I observed how college students, including myself, struggled to adapt to remote learning, manage their finances, maintain social connections, and support their mental health. It later became clear that there was a need for a comprehensive platform that could support students in multiple aspects of their lives, all in one place.
Q: How did a personal pain point or experience spark your idea?
A: During the pandemic, I struggled with balancing academics, finances, and mental health as a student. Thus, this experience motivated me to create a solution for students. I wanted to make university life easier for them. There was no unified tool to address these challenges. Additionally, social platforms often worsened my mental health. This fueled my desire to create a more supportive, less stressful digital space for students.
Q: Were there any serendipitous encounters or events that inspired your idea?
A: One pivotal moment was a conversation with fellow students struggling with similar challenges. Their stories reinforced the idea that a platform like Wikolo was not just a personal need but a widespread necessity. Throughout our market research, which involved thousands of college students across 20 universities in the USA and internationally, we discovered that most students heavily used the same social apps: TikTok, Snapchat, Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube.
However, we also found that these platforms were significant sources of stress for them. Many students expressed that, despite their frequent use, they didn’t actually want to spend so much time on these apps, indicating a clear need for a healthier, more supportive digital environment.
Q: Can you describe the process of refining and clarifying your initial idea?
A: The initial concept of Wikolo started as a simple academic support tool, but through extensive market research and student feedback, the idea evolved into a comprehensive super app. We expanded the features to include academic support, financial management, mental health resources, and social networking capabilities, ensuring that it addressed students’ holistic needs in a positive and less stressful way compared to existing platforms.
Q: How does your startup idea align with your passions and values?
A: Wikolo aligns with my passion for technology and innovation. I’m committed to creating solutions that improve lives. Additionally, I believe in education and mental well-being. Wikolo reflects these values by empowering students while prioritizing privacy and security. There is a need for more competition in social media in the USA and Europe. Users deserve an ethical platform that prioritizes well-being over advertisers’ interests. Wikolo aims to fill this gap by providing a supportive, user-focused environment. This contrasts with the stress-inducing nature of existing social platforms.
Bridging the Gap Between Challenges and Solutions
Wikolo’s founder has shown how tough times can lead to great ideas. Wikolo Inc isn’t just an app; it’s a way to help students tackle their daily challenges. By doing this, Wikolo is changing the way young people use digital tools.
For investors and entrepreneurs, Wikolo’s story is a reminder that the best ideas often come from real-life problems and the desire to make things better. As Wikolo grows, it shows a future where technology is used to support and uplift students. This is just the start for Wikolo, and there’s much more to come.
