We caught up with Nichelle McCall, CEO of BOLD Guidance, to discuss what she’s working on and learn about her experience in our accelerator.
Nichelle McCall with BOLD Guidance
BOLD Guidance navigates students through college applications and allows counselors and parents to view their progress. The online platform and app makes the college application process easier with step-by-step guides and automated deadlines, tasks and reminders specific to each application.
What attracted you to FlashStarts?
Several mentors and advisors mentioned FlashStarts to me who were connected to accelerator community. I looked into it and talked Jen about the program. What I really liked was the opportunity to work with FlashStarts even after the 3 month accelerator program to get additional support. I also liked how funding could be available through FlashStarts after demo day outside of an outside investor. Also—having a group of willing interns that want to help out is awesome too!
What are you working on right now?
We are working on creating a step by step guide through college application—mobile devices and computer—helping make it easier and less stressful for students applying to
college. Right now, we are building out the software, which includes two parts. The first is 
the back end with the database with all the colleges and common application, and the second is the front end, which is the interaction piece that shows requirements and tasks to check off, and the platform where parents and counselors can see progress too! It allows them to see what going on with their student’s progress.
What has been the biggest challenge this summer?
The customers are high schools, and getting to them is hard since they’re on summer break! Schools we’ve talked to are super excited and we some great partners lined up (launch in September), it’s matter of getting more people excited about the project, which we will!
Tell us about working and living in Cleveland.
Cleveland is awesome, I’m from here! I’ve lived in New York and Washington DC, but one of the things I appreciate about Cleveland is that it’s a small big city. There are a lot of different activities and things to do that’s affordable. Clevelanders are so friendly and the network you have access to here is easier than New York or Washington DC—it’s something I really appreciate and value! And who doesn’t love the lake?
What is the best part about working with interns?
It’s exciting because the product is very relevant to the interns we are working with. Their fresh eyes and perspectives have been phenomenal for our development, the work (and quickly getting things done) has been so helpful, and they help us make huge milestones in short periods of time! I don’t want to see them go!
For more information about BOLD Guidance, visit www.boldguidance.com or email Nichelle McCall at nmccall@boldguidance.com.
