If you’ve been a fan of the punk scene since the early 2000s, you might recognize Nick Gross, the drummer for the band Goldfinger.
It now empowers young people to pursue their passions through its career exploration platform, Find Your Grind. The platform highlights alternative professions not usually emphasized in schools, such as being a member of a pop-punk band, a content creator, a social media manager, and even a professional esports player.
The company on Tuesday announced a $5 million Series A funding round, bringing its total funding to $8 million. The round was led by Echo Investment Capital, with support from Gross’s investment firm, Gross Labs. The investment will help expand the company’s “career readiness” programs across the US
Gross began his music career at age 17 when his high school band, Open Air Stereo, gained significant exposure after appearing on the hit MTV reality series “Laguna Beach.” Inspired by his experience, Gross came up with the idea for Find Your Grind after bringing students into his studio and seeing firsthand the challenges they face when exploring career options, often due to a lack of exposure in traditional schools.
“Young people are entering a rapidly changing world of work,” Gross told TechCrunch. “As students prepare to leave school and begin their careers, many do so without a strong sense of who they are, what they want or how to take their next steps after school. Find Your Grind gives them the tools to explore not only what careers are out there, but what paths match their strengths, interests and visions of what they want their future to look like,” she said.
Conventional career guidance often focuses on salaries and promotions, but this can feel disconnected from the rapidly evolving job market the new generation is entering. Many of these students no longer aspire to become doctors, engineers or lawyers. Indeed, the World Economic Forum predicts that around 92 million jobs will be gone by 2030.
Traditional career exploration also tends to overlook the emotional aspect of choosing a career that aligns with a person’s values and desired lifestyle.
The startup’s platform focuses on four core competencies: self-awareness, career awareness, social awareness, and action awareness. It also features a lifestyle assessment that helps students identify three lifestyle paths based on their preferences. For example, they may find that they align with the roles of an entertainer, a creator, or a humanitarian. Students then receive a customized next-step plan for what to do after graduation.
In addition, students can access videos and interactive lessons, and a team of mentors provide practical advice on starting their careers and the steps they took to succeed. Notable mentors include Tony Hawk, Tony Hoffman and will.i.am, among others.
There’s also an AI-powered “Reflective Coach” that provides personalized feedback and encourages students to dive deeper into their answers for better ideas.
Find Your Grind also organizes workforce development initiatives such as lifestyle fairs that give students real-world experience. The company is launching its first program in Oklahoma City, partnering with local schools and training centers to help students discover job opportunities in their hometowns that align with their lifestyle preferences.
The company plans to launch more programs in additional cities in the future.
So far, Find Your Grind has helped 100,000 students, according to the company. Gross told us he hopes “over a million students” will join the platform to be “more future-ready.”
