MissionU

The company's business model was centered on an Income Share Agreement (ISA), a departure from traditional student loans. Students paid zero upfront tuition; instead, they agreed to pay 15% of their income for three years, but only after securing a job that paid at least $50,000 annually. This model was intended to make the company directly invested in the employment outcomes of its graduates. The primary source of revenue was projected to be these tuition dollars, with plans to explore other streams in the future.

MissionU's single major was in Data Analytics and Business Intelligence, a curriculum developed in partnership with leading tech companies like Spotify, Lyft, Uber, and Warby Parker to ensure its relevance to employer needs. The program targeted 'career starters,' typically between 19 and 29 years old, and combined online classes with in-person sessions, focusing on both technical skills and emotional intelligence (EQ). In its brief operational period, the San Francisco-based program was highly selective, accepting only 25-30 students in its first cohort from over 4,000 applicants.

Despite raising a total of $11.5 million in venture capital from investors including FirstMark Capital and John Doerr, MissionU had a short lifespan. In May 2018, the company was acquired by WeWork for approximately $4 million in stock in a deal described as an "acqui-hire." Following the acquisition, MissionU ceased enrolling new students and wound down its operations. The students from its sole cohort were relieved of their ISA obligations. Adam Braun transitioned to become the COO of WeWork's new K-12 school initiative, WeGrow, with the intent of using MissionU's technology to support the new venture. Keywords: MissionU, Adam Braun, college alternative, income share agreement, ISA, debt-free education, WeWork acquisition, Pencils of Promise, education technology, EdTech, workforce development, skills training, data analytics, business intelligence, higher education disruption, Michael Adams, WeGrow, career starter program, alternative education, venture capital, FirstMark Capital