We prepare the next generation for college and everything that follows.
Who we are
Cohort is a modern guidance platform reimagining how students prepare for college and launch their careers. Founded in 2022, we’ve helped hundreds of students from every background gain clarity, confidence, and control over their futures.
Who we support
Whether you’re a 9th grader figuring out what excites you, a rising senior building your college list, or a college student seeking your first internship, Cohort is here to help you make your next move with purpose. We support students virtually across the US and internationally with a focus on American universities.
Why Cohort
We believe that great guidance should be inspiring, not intimidating. That’s why we combine expert mentorship, smart technology, and a deeply human approach to meet students where they are—and help them get where they want to go.
Our platform closely tracks students’ every step, allowing us to proactively suggest next steps and provide resources to help accomplish those goals. Our students emerge confident about their process and excited for their next challenge!
Cohort is on a mission to give students confidence in their future
College admissions can be extremely stressful.
We know that college admissions can be overwhelming, and we aim to alleviate some of that pressure. We believe that college is important, but you don’t need to attend an elite university to have a great career and live a full life. What matters most is putting students in a situation where they can thrive.
It’s difficult to know what options are available to students.
There are countless incredible colleges and careers that exist, yet students don’t always know what they are. Knowing what is possible is the first step toward creating possibility.
Career preparation can be even more confusing than college admissions.
Even when students know what careers exist, choosing the right one for themselves and knowing how to prepare can be extremely daunting. Our goal is to make that process exciting, not intimidating.
Cohort helps every student navigate their next step, whatever it may be
Meet our founders
Kian Simpson
Kian studied neurobiology and economics at Harvard, drawn to understanding how people learn, grow, and make decisions.
He began his career at Bain & Company, where he advised enterprise tech clients and diligenced impact investments. After Bain, he joined Zeta Charter Schools—one of New York’s fastest-growing charter networks—where he built systems to help teachers collaborate and deliver rigorous curriculum at scale. Since high school, he has mentored students through college and career.
Kian is a member of the Independent Educational Consultants Association (IECA) and holds a certificate in college counseling from the University of California San Diego.
His work on Cohort is rooted in a core belief: that every student deserves access to real guidance, meaningful mentorship, and the chance to define success on their own terms. Cohort is his answer to what the college admissions process should be—affordable, ambitious, and deeply human.
Caden Mackenzie
Caden is a software engineer and educator who leads all things technical at Cohort. He’s passionate about building tools that make expert guidance more accessible to students and families—especially in moments that shape their future.
Caden began his career as a coding instructor, helping students around the world build real-world programming skills. He later led engineering teams focused on turning complex data into simple, actionable insights—experience he now brings to Cohort’s student-first platform. At Cohort, Caden builds the infrastructure that powers our curriculum, live workshops, and mentorship matching—ensuring every student gets the support they need, when they need it.
He believes that technology should amplify human connection, not replace it. That belief is at the core of how Cohort delivers smart, scalable, and deeply personalized college guidance.