From Classmates to Co-Founders: How Three Ecolint Alumni Are Shaping the Future of Student Support
From Classmates to Co-Founders: How Three Ecolint Alumni Are Shaping the Future of Student Support
In 2021, Santiago, Quentin, and Gregorio walked out of La Grande Boissière with their diplomas in hand and their eyes set on London. Though they enrolled at different universities, their friendship—rooted in years of shared memories since Year 7—remained strong. Today, that same bond has evolved into a growing entrepreneurial venture: EduNova, a tutoring and university guidance platform designed by students, for students.
The seeds of EduNova were planted two years ago when Quentin and Gregorio, both studying at Imperial College London, began reflecting on their own transition to university. They realised how many unknowns there are to university life and how valuable it would have been to have guidance along the way.
With extensive tutoring backgrounds, they also saw a clear opportunity to improve an already crowded field: online tutoring platforms. While many exist, the duo noted several shortcomings—high commission fees for tutors, inconsistent quality, and limited personalised support for university admissions. Their solution? A platform that combines affordable, high-quality tutoring with first-hand university guidance, helping students navigate academic decisions with insights from those who’ve lived them recently.
Realising the need for more structure and strategic direction, Quentin and Gregorio turned to someone they knew and trusted: Santiago, who was then pursuing a degree in International Management at King’s College London. Santiago joined EduNova to implement processes and business structure, while also overseeing tutor communications, marketing, and growth. For him, it was the ideal opportunity to apply his academic knowledge directly in a real-world context.
Today, EduNova is steadily building a strong network of tutors and academic mentors, many of whom are current students or recent graduates from top UK universities. The team’s next goal? Expanding its reach while maintaining the quality and personal touch that defines EduNova. Alongside actively reaching out to international schools and building awareness, Santiago has launched the EduNova Newsletter, which offers free resources, curated advice, and insights from recent IB graduates. One of its most popular tools is a free IB deadline tracker, designed to help students stay organised throughout the programme. He is also developing a network of student ambassadors across London universities to represent the platform and connect with new users.
Of course, managing a start-up while pursuing demanding university courses came with its own set of challenges. The trio admitted that balancing EduNova with their studies was intense, particularly around exams or project deadlines. But they credited their success to clear communication, mutual trust, and a strong friendship that allowed them to navigate the ups and downs of entrepreneurial life together.
“We’ve worked hard to automate as many processes as possible,” Quentin explains. “That way, we can focus our energy on growth, development, and making the platform better for both students and tutors.”
To date, EduNova has been entirely bootstrapped, but the co-founders are now exploring avenues for strategic advice as they look to consolidate operations and refine their offering. As recent graduates, Santiago continues to run EduNova and is growing the team to expand reach and increase efficiency, while operating at breakeven with the main goal of putting students over profits. His commitment is to build EduNova into a boutique online tutoring platform—kept intentionally small and autonomous, so that every tutor on the platform can be personally vouched for and every student receives tailored support.
From classmates at Ecolint to co-founders of a promising education start-up, Santiago, Quentin, and Gregorio are a testament to the power of long-term friendships, shared values, and entrepreneurial spirit.
Are you an alum with insight into EdTech, start-up investment, or mentorship? The EduNova team would love to hear from you. Contact the Alumni Office to get connected or contact them on their WhatsApp +44 7984 767572