Knack, a student‑success platform that enables higher‑education institutions to manage and expand peer‑learning programs, has closed a Series B round led by New Markets Venture Partners (NMVP), and simultaneously appointed Megan Dusenbery as Chief Executive Officer, while founder Samyr Qureshi transitions to Executive Chairman of the Board.
Founded in 2015, Knack has partnered with major institutions—such as Fordham University, Northeastern University, the University of Florida and Georgia Tech—to deploy student‑peer tutors as paid leaders, strengthening retention and graduation outcomes across campuses. Under Qureshi’s decade‑long leadership, the platform scaled nationwide. In his words: “With nearly 20 years of experience partnering with higher‑education institutions, Megan brings a rare combination of domain depth and disciplined execution.”
Dusenbery, formerly Chief Partnerships Officer at Association of College and University Educators (ACUE) and a senior leader at Kaplan, takes the helm at a pivotal time. “What excites me most about Knack is that our platform not only delivers measurable retention outcomes for institutions but also creates paid high‑impact job opportunities for students to lead, mentor, and gain real‑world skills,” she said.
Robb Doub, General Partner at NMVP, commented: “Megan is the right leader for this phase. We’re looking forward to working with her and the team.” With the new funding and leadership structure, Knack aims to deepen its institutional footprint and enhance its data‑driven approach to peer‑learning services.
Editorial Perspective
Knack’s dual move—raising fresh capital and elevating a seasoned higher‑ed operator to CEO—signals a maturing edtech infrastructure model that goes beyond student‑engagement apps. The platform addresses two core challenges facing universities: retention and affordability of academic support. By turning peer tutors into paid mentors, Knack creates a virtuous cycle—better outcomes for tutees, meaningful work for tutors, and scalable services for institutions.
The choice of Megan Dusenbery is strategic: her track record in forging institutional partnerships and scaling higher‑education programs perks up the radar. At a time when colleges face budget constraints and increasing pressure on student success metrics, Knack is placing itself as a system‑level enabler, not just a campus tool. If they execute well, the company could become the backbone of tier‑one universities’ student‑support strategies rather than a fringe add‑on.
Yet the real test lies ahead: converting fresh funding into measurable gains across metrics like graduation rates, institutional adoption and the paid‑tutor ecosystem. If Knack can deliver evidence of retention lift and expand beyond initial campuses into multi‑institution systems, it may redefine how higher‑ed support services get architected. With its new leadership and backing, Knack seems positioned for that leap.
If you need further assistance or have any corrections, please reach out to editor@thetimesmag.com.
