Grockit, a social network for studying and the Magic Johnson Foundation (www.magicjohnson.org), a 501(c)3 nonprofit public charity that develops programs and supports community-based organizations that address the educational, health and social needs of ethnically diverse, urban communities, announced today that they are working together to provide summer education opportunities to students. To ensure that each student has the opportunity to learn and get ahead, Grockit is donating 1,000 online scholarships to its Summer Enrichment Academy, an online learning program for students in grades 8-12. Additionally, students will have unlimited access to Grockit’s adaptive online learning platform including test prep. Students may apply for the scholarships now through the Magic Johnson Foundation Community Empowerment Centers and the Magic Johnson Foundation will determine which children are eligible.

Students experience a serious degradation of knowledge called “summer learning loss” when they do not engage in educational activities during the break between the school year, and the Summer Enrichment Academy helps students avoid this. Through the application of social networking and online learning technology, the Summer Enrichment Academy helps make studying fun and creates an engaging way for students to master academic skills. The program is aligned to national and state education standards and allows students to study subjects such as English Language Arts, pre-Algebra, Algebra I and II, Geometry, Calculus, Probability and Statistics, Trigonometry and Pre-Calculus. Grockit also provides test prep programs for standardized tests such as the SAT, ACT, GRE and GMAT, with more to come.

“There is no question that students in low income areas are most significantly impacted by the summer learning loss and are at the greatest educational disadvantage,” said Farb Nivi, CEO, Grockit. “We believe that every student has the right to a good education and that this is the best way to set a young person on a path to a productive future, which is why we are pleased and honored to work with the Magic Johnson Foundation. We applaud the work they do on a daily basis to help bring education opportunities to the communities they serve.”

The Magic Johnson Foundation, a nonprofit public charity that develops programs and supports community-based organizations that address the educational, health and social needs of ethnically diverse, urban communities, created Community Empowerment Centers to provide ethnically diverse urban communities access to resources and programming that educate, empower and strengthen individuals though the innovative use of technology. The first technology center was launched in Los Angeles in 2001. There are currently 18 Community Empowerment Centers located in 15 urban markets and the rural market of South Carolina.

“Education is the key to a successful future and we strive to impart the importance of learning in every child we serve,” said Towalame Austin, President, Magic Johnson Foundation. “Grockit’s Summer Enrichment Academy is an important tool in helping to combat the uphill battle that students in low income communities already face in education. We are grateful for the scholarships they are providing and look forward to giving our students a way to continue to learn and grow over the summer.”

About Grockit

Grockit was founded in 2007 to leverage the social benefits of the Internet, improve academic achievement and to extend learning outside of the classroom. Through the application of social networking and online gaming technology, the Grockit learning platform offers students a fun and engaging way to master academic skills and to prepare for standardized tests. The diagnostic, prescriptive and adaptive nature of the platform ensures that each student receives an individualized learning experience. Grockit was founded by Farb Nivi, a former Princeton Review Teacher of the Year and academic director at Kaplan. Headquartered in San Francisco, Grockit is funded by Atlas Venture, Benchmark Capital and Integral Capital Partners and angel investors including Reid Hoffman (founder, LinkedIn) and Mark Pincus (founder and CEO, Zynga). For more information, please visit www.grockit.com.

About The Magic Johnson Foundation

The Magic Johnson Foundation was established in 1991 as a single-disease organization that worked to raise funds for community-based organizations dealing with HIV/AIDS education and prevention programs. The Foundation since expanded the mission to focus on developing programs and supporting community-based organizations that address broader educational, health and social needs of ethnically diverse, urban communities. Learn more at www.magicjohnson.org.

Educational Program Helps Combat Summer Learning Loss in Fun, Convenient Way

Company Offers Scholarship Program to Ensure All Students Have Access to Online Academy

SAN FRANCISCO, May 19, 2010 — Grockit (www.grockit.com), a social network for studying that uses collaborative learning and develops adaptive programs for students, announced today the launch of its Summer Enrichment Academy, an online summer learning program for students in grades 8-12.  Students experience a serious degradation of knowledge called “summer learning loss” when they do not engage in educational activities during the break between the school year, and the Summer Enrichment Academy helps students avoid this phenomenon.

Through the application of social networking and online gaming technology, the Summer Enrichment Academy helps make learning fun and creates an engaging way for students to master academic skills. The program is aligned to national and state education standards and allows students to study subjects such as English Language Arts, pre-Algebra, Algebra I and II, Geometry, Calculus, Probability and Statistics, Trigonometry and Pre-Calculus.  The Summer Enrichment Academy is convenient, flexible and affordable.  It is offered online so students can participate based on their individual schedules and is only $79.99 for the entire summer if students enroll before June 15^th.

“It is no surprise that when students spend more time studying, they learn more and get higher test scores and grades.  Grockit was created to encourage students to continue their academic pursuits outside the classroom by making learning fun and collaborative,” said Farb Nivi, CEO, Grockit.  “The Summer Enrichment Academy leverages these principals by allowing students to take advantage of the summer months while studying with peers in a very fun and convenient way – wherever they are, and whenever they feel like it.”

On average, students lose 2.6 months of grade-level equivalency in mathematical computation skills and almost as much in reading skills over the summer break.  Research shows that students typically score lower on standardized tests at the end of summer vacation than they do on the same tests at the beginning of summer vacation.

“Summer learning loss is a real problem for students in this country and collectively puts them at an educational disadvantage compared to the rest of the industrialized world,” said Mark Bielang, superintendent of Paw Paw Public Schools and president of the American Association of School Administrators. “Summer learning programs such as Grockit’s Summer Enrichment Academy allow students to retain the knowledge they have gained during the school year and position them for continued learning and growth.”

The Summer Enrichment Academy offers:

• Quick and Comprehensive Online Diagnosis – Parents can quickly diagnose their child’s academic strengths and weaknesses from automatically-generated reports pinpointing their child’s academic strengths and needs by specific skill.
• Customized Curriculum – With just a few clicks parents can create a customized curriculum that will focus on the skills their child needs to work on most and further challenge them in the skills in which they excel.
• 24/7 Access to Grockit Group Study – Here students practice with, learn from, and compete with up to 100,000 motivated students using live chat.
• 24/7 Access to Grockit Independent Practice – Students can work independently answering questions against the clock. After each session and for the entire summer students have the opportunity to review the questions they got wrong with a detailed expert explanation.
• Instructor-Led Lessons – Students can work with the highest rated Grockit instructors in live online groups and one-on-one classes for an additional fee, but a fraction of the cost of traditional offline tutoring.
• Detailed Progress Reports – Each month parents will receive a report of their child’s activity, their progress, and a detailed view of their academic strengths and weaknesses by specific skill.

Grockit is offering scholarships for the Summer Enrichment Program for students enrolled in the National School Lunch Program.  As low-income children experience significantly greater summer learning losses than their higher income peers, Grockit wants to ensure that each student has the opportunity to get ahead and learn. For more information on the scholarship program please visit: http://grockit.com/summeracademy/scholarship

About Grockit
Grockit was founded in 2007 to leverage the social benefits of the Internet, improve academic achievement and to extend learning outside of the classroom. Through the application of social networking and online gaming technology, the Grockit learning platform offers students a fun and engaging way to master academic skills and to prepare for standardized tests. The diagnostic, prescriptive and adaptive nature of the platform ensures that each student receives an individualized learning experience. Grockit was founded by Farb Nivi, a former Princeton Review Teacher of the Year and academic director at Kaplan. Headquartered in San Francisco, Grockit is funded by Atlas Venture, Benchmark Capital and Integral Capital Partners and angel investors including Reid Hoffman (founder, LinkedIn) and Mark Pincus (founder and CEO, Zynga). For more information, please visit www.grockit.com.

Round Led by Atlas Venture with Participation from Existing Investors Benchmark Capital and Integral Capital Partners

SAN FRANCISCO, May 14, 2010 — Grockit (www.grockit.com), a social network for studying that uses collaborative learning and develops adaptive programs for students, announced today that it has completed a $7 million round of funding led by Atlas Venture. Existing investors Benchmark Capital and Integral Capital Partners also participated.

Grockit leverages the social benefits of the Internet, to improve academic achievement and extend learning outside of the classroom. Through the application of social networking and online gaming technology, the Grockit learning platform offers students a fun and engaging way to master academic skills and prepare for standardized tests. Grockit offers access to nearly 100,000 students from all over the world that members can practice with in online study groups 24 hours a day.

“It is widely accepted that digital media is an important tool for the future of education and we are committed to bringing this to students everywhere in a fun, accessible way,” said Farb Nivi, founder and CEO, Grockit. “The team at Atlas Venture shares our passion for the market and understands the importance of social media in education. I’ve known Jeff Fagnan at Atlas, and the entrepreneurs they have backed, for many years. Having the Atlas team lead this round is about bringing on the right investor at a really exciting time for Grockit. Their involvement will support the continued growth of Grockit as we build out the executive team and truly scale the company.”

“I have known Farb for years and have been continually impressed with his passion for education and his understanding of how technology can improve education today,” said Jeff Fagnan, partner, Atlas Venture. “The Grockit team has built a sophisticated technology platform that can make a meaningful impact on the way students learn everywhere.”

About Grockit
Grockit was founded in 2006 to leverage the social benefits of the Internet, improve academic achievement and to extend learning outside of the classroom. Through the application of social networking and online gaming technology, the Grockit learning platform offers students a fun and engaging way to master academic skills and to prepare for standardized tests. The diagnostic, prescriptive and adaptive nature of the platform ensures that each student receives an individualized learning experience. Grockit was founded by Farb Nivi, a former Princeton Review Teacher of the Year and academic director at Kaplan. Headquartered in San Francisco, Grockit is funded by Atlas Venture, Benchmark Capital and Integral Capital Partners and ange

24/7 Access to IRT Based Adaptive Curriculum, iPhone and Facebook Applications Allow for Unprecedented Personalization and Access

SAN FRANCISCO, March 11, 2010 — Grockit (www.grockit.com), an online educational company that focuses on collaborative learning, announced today the launch of its personalized test prep program that guides students through the entire test prep process. The program is the first of its kind to use the same IRT algorithms as actual standardized tests to continuously adapt instruction to each individual student’s strengths and weaknesses. The comprehensive study program includes:

• Live Online Instruction: Complete and personalized SAT, ACT, GMAT and GRE prep courses. The courses combine live online lectures led by the top instructors in the country, group study with peers from all over the world, and personalized homework for each student based on their unique strengths and weaknesses. Students can access their peers and their personalized homework assignments 24 hours a day. A schedule of courses can be found on http://grockit.com and start at $299. Features include:

• An online learning environment that adapts to each individual student and is based on IRT algorithms that are backed by decades of research.
• Access to nearly 100,000 students from all over the world that members can practice with in online study groups 24 hours a day.
• The ability for students to choose their own instructor before signing up for classes by viewing instructor analytics along with student reviews.

• Adaptive Practice: Grockit’s IRT based platform personalizes the program to ensure students are always being challenged at the appropriate level and receiving the instruction they need when they need it most.

• Highly Rated Instructors: Grockit’s proprietary teacher ranking algorithm ranks teachers based on their actual ability, ratings by students and activity in the community. This detailed view into teacher performance allows for complete transparency, so students and parents know they are working with the best instructors available.

• Industry-Leading Money-Back Guarantee: Most test prep providers only guarantee a 1 point improvement on the exam, or they will let you take their course over again at no cost. Grockit guarantees students will improve 150 points or more on the SAT, 50 points or more on the GMAT, and 2 points or more on the ACT or they will receive a complete refund.

• Facebook and iPhone Applications: With Grockit, students can study any time, any place with the iPhone application and with their friends on Facebook. The Grockit application can be found on Facebook by visiting http://apps.facebook.com/grockit.

“We built Grockit based on the needs I saw during my decade as a test prep instructor and what we have created is the application I only dreamed of then. Grockit is the most personalized means of study with each component created to reinforce students’ strengths and reduce academic weaknesses,” said Farb Nivi, Princeton Review’s 2002 Teacher of the Year and CEO, Grockit. “Grockit is not just a test prep platform, it is a learning platform that has been enthusiastically embraced by the education community. We are already working on bringing Grockit’s robust learning platform to every K-12 school district across the nation.”

We’re excited to welcome Chris to the team! Here is a copy of the press release so you can get to know him:

SAN FRANCISCO – Feb. 23, 2010 Grockit (www.grockit.com), an online educational company that leverages the Web to deliver real-time and adaptive social learning games, announced today that Chris Strausser has joined the company as chief marketing officer. Chris will be responsible for Grockit’s B2C and B2B Marketing and will report to founder and CEO Farb Nivi.

Strausser is a marketing veteran having spent over 20 years building educational and consumer brands. Most recently, Strausser served as chief marketing and sales officer at Chela Education Financing, which was sold to Nelnet, a leading education financing company with net assets exceeding $20 billion. Before this, Strausser held various positions at Kaplan Education for five years including chief marketing officer of SCORE! Learning.

Earlier in his career, Strausser ran marketing and product development for Jamba Juice when the company was in its infancy and had just secured its first major round of venture financing. He helped lead the company through its rapid growth phase adding more than 200 new stores. Strausser began his career at Saatchi & Saatchi Advertising, holding the position of vice president, management supervisor when he left to join Pepsico where he held senior marketing positions in the restaurant division with Taco Bell.

“Chris possesses the rare combination of proven marketing prowess with educational experience. He’s a perfect addition to our leadership team,” said Farb Nivi, CEO of Grockit. “In the short time since Grockit launched, we have created a whole new way for students to learn and a whole new type of learning environment. With Chris on board we look forward to scaling the company and expanding our suite of products.”

“I think Grockit is the future of education and I have been impressed with the platform that Farb and the team have built,” said Strausser. “I share the team’s core belief that integrating technology and the web into the educational environment allows for a more efficient, robust experience that will produce results. I am really thrilled to be joining Grockit to help roll this out.”

SAT Tutorathon Gives Students Tips and Tools Before the January 23^rd SAT

SAN FRANCISCO – Jan. 18, 2010 – Grockit (www.grockit.com), an online educational company that leverages the Web to deliver real-time and adaptive social learning games, announced today the beginning of Grockit’s SAT Tutorathon, a week of free test prep, including unlimited access to Grockit’s stellar roster of tutors, leading up to the January 23^rd SAT exam.  The SAT Tutorathon also allows students to evaluate their skill level, tailor a personalized study plan to eliminate weaknesses and enhance strengths, and study individualized practice questions and tutor guided games free-of-charge from Monday, January 18^th to Friday, January 22^nd.

“We want to help students everywhere raise their SAT scores and with the next SAT just around the corner, we wanted to give students the tools they need to de-stress and boost their confidence going into the exam,” said Farb Nivi, CEO, Grockit. “The most important factor in success on a standardized test, or any test for that matter, is a student’s mental state and stress level going into the exam. Our goal in creating the SAT Tutorathon was to help alleviate the increased pressure surrounding students so that they can reach their highest potential.”

Grockit offers unprecedented transparency into the performance of its tutors, many who have achieved the 99^th percentile in the exams they specialize in.  Students can access Grockit tutor statistics, detailed analytics, biographies, testimonials, and select the tutor they want to work with.  Using Grockit, students collect badges, points and rewards for both learning and teaching, and are ranked on the Grockit leaderboard, which illustrates test scores, areas of proficiency, testimonials and star ratings. Grockit highlights the way students study naturally – whether studying alone, with peers or with experts.  Since launching nine months ago, Grockit has already helped more than 50,000 students prepare for standardized tests including the SAT, ACT, GRE and GMAT.

Students can access the Grockit SAT Tutorathon here: www.grockit.com/tutorathon.

About Grockit
Grockit was created to leverage the best of the Web and offer students a real-time, on-demand, adaptive, global and social way of learning.  Grockit offers test prep and learning games that optimize how students study. Led by an innovative and expert management team, Grockit is poised to change the status quo in test prep and the educational process. Headquartered in San Francisco, Grockit is funded by Benchmark Capital and Integral Capital Partners and angel investors including Reid Hoffman (founder, LinkedIn) and Mark Pincus (founder and CEO, Zynga).

Grockit Announces Real-Time GRE Test Prep Through Online Social Learning Games. GRE Students Now Have Unlimited Access to Grockit’s Collaborative Online Games.

SAN FRANCISCO, Dec. 2, 2009 — Grockit (www.grockit.com), an online social learning game company, announced today the launch of its GRE online test prep and learning game services.  Grockit’s test prep program is an engaging and intelligent way to prepare for the GRE using online collaborative social game play that allows students to benefit from peer-to-peer learning, as well as practice and learn from experts. In addition to the GRE, Grockit also helps students prepare for the SAT, ACT and GMAT.

Beginning with an advanced diagnostic analysis, Grockit for the GRE helps students evaluate their strengths and weaknesses, then allows them to tailor a personalized study plan to eliminate weaknesses and augment strengths. As members of the Grockit learning community, students can choose from or combine three routes of study:

Alone: Students play a game that provides complete diagnostic analysis on the student’s strengths and weaknesses. Grockit then adapts to each individual, feeding questions and study material that optimizes a student’s study time.

With peers: Students practice with other students in live games and study groups. Peers serve as a primary learning resource and knowledge is reinforced when students teach each other what they know.

With experts: Students have access to experts on a range of topics where shared knowledge allows them to hone the areas where they need improvement. Grockit offers students unprecedented transparency and full view into experts’ scores, strengths and weaknesses.

“Collaboration and peer-to-peer learning are the foundations of our online test prep programs,” said Farb Nivi, founder and CEO of Grockit.  “Whether the GREs are being taken by a recent university graduate or an individual looking to expand their education or switch careers, social learning speaks to people of all ages by engaging the learner through an enjoyable study platform.”

Additional community and interactive features of Grockit include:

Points and Leaderboards: Grockit incorporates two point systems, which serve as reputation-like indicators: Experience Points (XP) and Grockit Points (GP). A player earns XP by answering questions correctly and GP by teaching other players in the games.

Performance Statistics: Students can track their performance across different skill areas. Detailed analytics provide students with their strengths and weakness, highlighting where they need to focus their study time.

Diagnostics, Challenges, and Badges: By answering questions in collaborative games, players work towards unlocking certain solo activities. Diagnostics include a fixed set of questions designed to generate an initial assessment of the student’s current ability level. Challenges can be unlocked through subsequent collaborative game-play and are designed to provide students with targeted practice. Students are awarded badges for various accomplishments; for example, when a user answers ten questions in a row correctly they earn the “Hot Streak” badge, while a user that studies with others often receives a “Team Player” badge.

IM/Chat: Students can chat in real-time and collaborate with other students keeping them more engaged.

Students interested in signing up for Grockit for the GRE can visit: http://www.grockit.com/gre

About Grockit
Founded in 2006 with the vision to leverage the social web and to take learning out of the classroom, Grockit offers test prep and learning games that optimize how students study. It offers students a fun way to study and leverages the best of the web. Led by an innovative and expert management team, Grockit is an exciting young company that is poised to change the status quo in test prep and the educational process. Grockit is backed by Benchmark Capital and Integral Capital Partners and angel investors including Reid Hoffman (founder, LinkedIn) and Mark Pincus (founder and CEO, Zynga).

Grockit Announces Free SAT and ACT Test Prep Service To Help Raise Nationwide Test Scores. Millions of SAT and ACT Students Everywhere Can Use Grockit’s Online Game to Learn From Peers and Study with Experts.

SAN FRANCISCO, Sept. 16, 2009 — Grockit (www.grockit.com), a new online social learning game company, announced today that it will is offering its SAT and ACT online test prep and learning game services for free to help students across the nation to raise their scores.  Grockit’s test prep program is a more engaging and smarter way to prepare for the SAT or ACT, using online social game play that allows students to practice with and help each other and to learn with experts.  As part of the offer, students who sign up now for Grockit’s test prep service can practice SAT and ACT questions as often as they want for free while playing in real-time with other students in a social and interactive web environment.

“Standardized test scores are falling across the U.S., which indicates a need for better test prep. Grockit offers a more engaging way for students to prepare for and succeed at standardized tests and now they can do it for free,” said Farb Nivi, founder and CEO of Grockit.  “One of the best resources for a student in any class is their classmates and education as an institution is failing to recognize this. In our more social model, SAT and ACT students can be a part of a community of peer learners. We want to help students everywhere improve their scores.”

Beginning with an advanced diagnostic analysis, Grockit for the SAT and ACT helps students evaluate their strengths and weaknesses, then allows them to tailor a personalized study plan to master weaknesses and augment strengths. As members of the Grockit learning community, students can then choose from or to combine three routes of study:

Alone: Students play a game that provides complete diagnostic analysis on the student’s strengths and weaknesses. Grockit then adapts to each individual, feeding questions and study material that optimizes a student’s study time.

With peers: Students practice with other students in live games and study groups. Peers serve as a primary learning resource and knowledge is reinforced when students teach each other what they know.

With experts: Students have access to experts on a range of topics where shared knowledge allows them to hone the areas where they need improvement. Grockit offers students unprecedented transparency and full view into experts’ scores, strengths and weaknesses.

Additional community and interactive features of Grockit include:

Points and Leaderboards: Grockit incorporates two point systems, which serve as reputation-like indicators: Experience Points (XP) and Grockit Points (GP). A player earns XP by answering questions correctly and GP by teaching other players in the games.

Performance Statistics: Students can view and opt to share their performance statistics. This data provides students with test, section and skill feedback on their performance.

Diagnostics, Quests, and Badges: By answering questions in collaborative games, players work towards unlocking certain solo activities. Diagnostics include a fixed set of questions designed to generate an initial assessment of the student’s current ability level. Quests can be unlocked through subsequent collaborative game-play and are designed to provide students with targeted practice. Students are awarded badges for various accomplishments, such as the completion of Diagnostics and Quests.

IM/Chat: Students can chat in real-time with other students keeping them more engaged.

Students interested in signing up for Grockit for the SAT or ACT can visit: http://www.grockit.com/sat or http://www.grockit.com/act.

About Grockit
Founded in 2006 with the vision to leverage the social web and to take learning out of the classroom, Grockit offers test prep and learning games that optimize how students study. It offers students a fun way to study and leverages the best of the web. Led by an innovative and expert management team, Grockit is an exciting young company that is poised to change the status quo in test prep and the educational process. Grockit has raised $10.7 million in venture financing and is backed by Benchmark Capital and Integral Capital Partners and angel investors including Reid Hoffman (founder, LinkedIn) and Mark Pincus (founder and CEO, Zynga).