Despite being a $90 billion industry, study abroad remains stuck in the past. While technology has transformed nearly every corner of education, the process of going overseas to study is still largely manual, opaque, and shaped by perverse incentives. 

Traditional agencies push students toward partner schools that pay the highest commissions—not necessarily the ones that fit best. Information is scattered, contradictory, and often outdated. And students pay thousands of dollars for services they could access directly for free, if only they knew how.

For Korean students—one of the world’s largest study abroad populations—these problems hit especially hard. Limited choices. Conflicting advice. A system designed to serve agencies, not learners.

That’s the reality Bomi Park set out to change. After experiencing the chaos firsthand during her own time studying in the U.S., she founded Connect.ED to flip the script: a platform that uses AI and verified data to put students back in control. Today, the company has supported over 30,000 students and partners with more than 15,000 institutions across the globe. Its AI-driven matching system cuts through the noise, delivering personalized recommendations based on real-time admissions data, scholarship availability, and visa requirements—without the commission bias.

But Connect.ED didn’t stop at helping students get in. With the launch of GROWTHLOG, the company is extending its vision into lifelong learning and career development, creating a seamless path from application to employment. It’s not just about where you study anymore—it’s about how you grow, what you build, and where you go next.

Connect.ED is a participant in the 2025 Tourism Global Challenge, a program organized by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and Korea Tourism Organization and operated by CNTTech. The program has provided critical mentorship, market access, and strategic support as the company scales into new regions—particularly across Asia, the Middle East, and Latin America.

What made you realize the study abroad industry needed to be rebuilt from scratch?

Honestly, it came from living it. During my time studying in the U.S., I met thousands of international students—and nearly all of them had horror stories. People being steered toward schools they didn’t want because of agency partnerships. Students paying $2,000+ for “consulting” that turned out to be just filling out forms they could’ve done themselves. Others missing deadlines or getting bad advice because no one had accurate information.

The worst part? It wasn’t just inefficient—it was unfair. The system was designed to serve agencies, not students. That’s when I realized: we don’t need a better agency. We need to eliminate the agency model entirely and build something that actually works for students.

So how is Connect.ED different?

We removed the conflict of interest. Traditional agencies only recommend schools they have commission deals with. We give students access to over 15,000 verified institutions—no strings attached. Every recommendation is based on fit, not fees.

But what really sets us apart is our AI-powered infrastructure. We’ve built a system that uses predictive modeling—GPA, test scores, extracurriculars, career goals—to estimate your chances and match you with the right schools. And it’s not static. Our AI has learned from over 30,000 real student journeys, so it gets smarter over time.

We also don’t stop when you get accepted. We track your progress through Course Completion Verification, building a verified portfolio that institutions and employers trust. That kind of end-to-end visibility? You won’t find it anywhere else.

What’s the relationship between Connect.ED and GROWTHLOG?

Think of them as two chapters in the same story. Connect.ED helps students take that first leap—finding the right school, getting in, making it happen. It’s built for Korean K–12 students heading to English-speaking countries like the U.S., UK, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand.

But we realized the journey doesn’t end at enrollment. Students still need help navigating their education, building skills, and preparing for careers. That’s where GROWTHLOG comes in. It’s a platform for lifelong learning and career growth—personalized learning paths, internship matching, certification tracking, verified portfolios.

And here’s the interesting part: GROWTHLOG also works in reverse. It supports international students who want to come study or work in Korea, tapping into this huge wave of inbound demand for global talent.

So Connect.ED gets you there. GROWTHLOG helps you grow. Together, they form a complete education-to-career pipeline.

What makes you confident Connect.ED can win in such a crowded space?

Because we’re not playing the same game everyone else is playing. Agencies compete on volume and relationships. We compete on outcomes and intelligence.

Our core asset is data—15,000+ institutions, tens of thousands of verified student records, structured in a way that powers predictions, personalization, and proof. We’re not just matching students to schools. We’re building the infrastructure for global education mobility.

And we’re not waiting around. We’re actively expanding into India and Southeast Asia—two of the fastest-growing education markets in the world. We’re entering adult learning and upskilling in 2025. We’re monetizing across the board: recruitment fees, premium services, SaaS subscriptions, data licensing, profile promotion.

This isn’t about being a better agency. It’s about making agencies obsolete.

What’s your pitch to investors?

We’re solving a problem that affects millions of students every year—and we’re doing it in a way that’s scalable, defensible, and global.

We have a diversified business model that works for students, schools, and employers. We have proprietary AI and data infrastructure that no one else has built. And we’re moving into markets—India, Southeast Asia, adult learning—where demand is exploding and competition is still figuring things out.

The future of education isn’t just global—it’s lifelong, verified, and borderless. We’re building the platform that powers it. The opportunity is massive. And it’s happening right now.