We're StudySpy.
We're StudySpy.
StudySpy is a social enterprise with the mission of enabling access to education.
We make education opportunities more visible to learners, upskillers, employers, careers advisors & teachers, parents and key study & career influencers.
StudySpy was created out of necessity after Founder, Michael Watson, changed his degree three times, feeling misinformed about his study options. He learned that he wasn’t alone and that 55% of recent graduates in New Zealand also felt they’d make the wrong study decision! Literally the majority of students.
Now, StudySpy provides free tools to support 160,000+ people each year make more informed decions about their education.
-
7,500+
Courses & Programmes -
$70M+
Scholarships -
70,000+
Searches Per Month
What does StudySpy do?
Learners are directed to StudySpy by:
- Govt.nz
- Secondary schools
- Careers NZ
- Tertiary providers
- Ministry of Education
- Libraries
- Te Puni Kōkiri
- Iwis
- Sorted.org.nz
- School Leavers' Toolkit
Our information is powered by:
And we create a standardised data model that can be updated using:
OR
We power experiences on:
StudySpy powers the programme directory for Te Pūkenga. Te Pūkenga brings
together vocational education and training through a unified national network of
polytechnics and ITOs.
Career Central is a software used by careers advisors and students in high schools
with over 60,000+ kiwi students. StudySpy powers the programme and scholarship
directory in the app to give careers advisors and students visibility over their options.
MyMahi supports students with learning, wellbeing and future pathways. StudySpy
powers the programme experience on MyMahi to help students and teachers
understand their educational opportunities.
Services we provide:
- Courses & scholarship
promotion - Studyspy Sync - (automatic updater)
- Digital marketing &
co-branded campaigns - Studspy Pro - (extra features)
- International student recruitment
- API / Database licencing
- Analytics, insights & consulting
- And open to explore new product development
-
Partner with us!
About the organisation:
Social enterprise
StudySpy is a social enterprise with the mission of enabling access to education. A social enterprise is a cause-driven organisation that applyes commerical strategies to improve social objectives and serve the common good
StudySpy’s Founder, Michael, was part of a delegation of
social entrepreneurs to visit Vietnam with the Asia New
Zealand Foundation in 2019. The trip was an opportunity
to learn about and meet local players in Vietnam’s social
enterprise sector. Following the trip, Michael wrote this
article for the Asia New Zealand Foundation about his
reflections on the visit and his key learnings about the
social enterprise business model.
Grassroots, bootstrapped & proud!
Built out of necessity, Founder, Michael, changed his degree three times after feeling misinformed about his study options. After learning 55% of recent graduates in NZ felt they’d made the wrong study decision too, he wanted to make education information more accessible to learners. After inspiration from a startup weekend and entrepreneurship bootcamp, StudySpy came to life.
From launch until now, StudySpy has been entirely bootstrapped - meaning it has been self-funded, financed using only existing resources and passionate people. This is quite an unconventional approach to business when compared with venture capital or debt funding, but can be regarded as a long-term sustainable approach. StudySpy operates a successful business model that not only sustains the operation but is designed for growth, with international aspirations.
StudySpy has been designed this way to be here for the long term to support learners and the education system as a whole.
Meet the herd! (our team):
Michael Watson
Michael changed his degree 3 times after feeling misinformed around potential study options. After learning 55% or recent grads felt the same way, he started StudySpy to help students make more informed decisions about their education.
Mixed-accent Michael is a Scottish Kiwi with an entreprenuerial mindset. He’s passionate about education, technology, social enterprise, linguistics and flexible work culture.
Ben Marino
Ben is a runner and has run the New York marathon! He’s good at computers and is doing a thesis about technology and society.
Ben has Māori & Scots heritage, affiliated with both sunny East Coast of Ngāti Porou and the lakes of Rotorua Te Arawa.
Mikayla Yee
Mikayla hails from sunny Nelson and chases the sunshine around the country in her converted campervan. A natural creative, you’ll find her working on anything from our social media posts to UX designs. She’s a pro at making anything look good - even our elephant spy agent!
When she’s not doing mahi, you’ll find Mikayla creating in other ways whether it’s photography, videography or painting up a storm.
Sheridan Jamieson
Sheridan’s career in business banking & finance took an unexpected turn after attending an impromptu presentation about social enterprise and purpose-led business. The concept of combining purpose & profit resonated deeply and led him to found Nurture - a social enterprise that provides virtual CFO services to impact-focussed businesses.
Sheridan helps organisations like StudySpy build long-term viable, sustainable business models in order to ensure their ongoing impact.
Ollie Bannister
Ollie is a software engineer who loves to build things. He has a passion for learning and is always looking for new ways to improve himself. Outside the office, you’ll find him down by the beach, out in the bush, or out on the slopes.
Ollie's technical background helps StudySpy build the best possible platform for students, helping them to find the best study options for them.
Careers at StudySpy:
Careers at StudySpy: