Karan Goel visits Agent511, Owensboro.

Youth forms online ACT prep business

8/15/2008

By Joy Campbell

Messenger-Inquirer

Karan Goel, a colleague of local entrepreneur Ankur Gopal, said Thursday he will launch an online education/ACT and SAT prep business in Kentucky today.

Goel, 23, was in Owensboro Thursday meeting with school district officials to explore possible collaborations, he said.

"We want to see if we can collaborate and help them with their students," Goel said in a phone interview. "We hope schools will see the value of the program.

So far, 43,000 students have used Goel's PrepMe product and have seen an average three-point increase in their ACT scores.

But he sees it as more than an ACT-prep test.

"Typical products focus on little tricks to help students improve their scores, and that has value," Goel said. "I compare that to giving someone who is running a marathon a new pair of sneakers. That would help some, but we all know that you must improve your running by building strength and working on your skills."

The PrepMe online offerings teach students to build their skills and reinforce key academic areas, he said.

"Students will be more prepared for college generally and not just do better on the test," he said. "It's customized for every student."

Goel plans to announce a partnership with the Kentucky Governor's Scholars Program today.

With the help of sponsors who buy the program, PrepMe will be available free for Governor's Scholars.