Company case study
ApplyBoard
ApplyBoard is a platform that helps international students apply to universities in the United States, bridging the gap between foreign students and U.S. educational institutions. It came up on My First Million, hosted by Sam Parr and Shaan Puri, in the episode "7 things MrBeast, Bezos & Thiel do that you don’t" (aired September 2, 2026).
At a glance
| Podcast | My First Million |
|---|---|
| Hosted by | Sam Parr and Shaan Puri |
| Episode | 7 things MrBeast, Bezos & Thiel do that you don’t |
| Aired | September 2, 2026 |
| Revenue and traction | Today, ApplyBoard generates over a billion dollars a year in revenue. |
| Category | Education |
Figures and claims are as told on the episode, summarized from the transcript. Check the date: they describe the company at the time it aired.
What the episode said
7 things MrBeast, Bezos & Thiel do that you don’t · aired September 2, 2026 · hosted by Sam Parr and Shaan Puri
Why it works
It addresses a significant need for international students who face challenges in applying to U.S. universities, while also leveraging the financial incentives from universities that charge higher fees for international students.
Founding story
The idea originated from a young scout who reached out to the host to help identify promising companies for investment, leading to the host considering investing in ApplyBoard, which was started by Martin Basiri.
The playbook
The company successfully created partnerships with U.S. universities, which pay them a fee for each student they help enroll, thus aligning their business model with the universities' interests.
Also mentioned
The host missed the opportunity to invest early, which highlights the potential of the company from its inception.