The Scout manifesto

We got into tech to make the world a better place. But where do you begin? What problem do you solve?

Build for yourself, say the luminaries of Silicon Valley. When what they really mean is build for them.

So, you make dating apps. AI-powered to-do lists. Sports betting, built into your TV! And so on.

To grow your users, you optimize for views, clicks, and likes. To grow your revenue, you sell to whoever’s most monetizable.

On New Year’s Eve, 2023, Max and I met to reflect on our time in startup world.

We resolved to tackle something more meaningful to us… something we’d always wanted to do together.

We thought back to high school, where we first met.

Our favorite teachers pushed us to build, learn, and hack. We loved every minute of it… but not everyone did.

For many students, school is too fast. They fall behind. For others, it’s too slow. Days spent daydreaming, not learning.

Back then, there were signs that the traditional model was dying. And today, it’s even more palpable. Millions of students, left behind.

We had always wanted to tackle this problem. Finally, it felt like time.

As we explored, we found educators in rebellion against the status quo, building startups of their own. But this time, for students — not investors.

Charter schools, microschools, homeschooling, online and hybrid learning… Modeling new ways for students to thrive in an uncertain world. But, with remarkable barriers, distracting them from their objectives.

Ancient systems. Complicated pricing. Endless compliance. What if technology could be used for this, instead?

So, we’ve spent the last two years building Scout:

The first student information system made with modern technology. Taking everything we’ve learned in tech — and using it for good.

A flexible system you can trust, build on, and maybe even love.

We believe in a future where educators can innovate, not battle with their systems.

Where data is actively helping schools, not holding them back.

Where schools can customize their software freely, without waiting years.

And where every student has a solution that’s truly made for them.

In the end, maybe we did build for ourselves.

Not for our hands and minds… but for our hearts.

We built Scout for the schools fighting the status quo.

For the educators fighting for a seat at the table.

For the students on their own journeys, off the beaten path.

For the real innovators making the world a better place, every single day.

We hope you love Scout as much as we’ve loved building it.

— Noah and Max