Knack, a leading student success technology platform that helps higher education institutions scale peer learning programs, announced that it has raised a Series B funding round led by New Markets Venture Partners (NMVP).
Along with the funding, Knack appointed higher education industry veteran Megan Dusenbery as Chief Executive Officer. Founder and outgoing CEO Samyr Qureshi will transition to Executive Chairman of the Board, continuing to support the company’s long-term strategy and market expansion efforts.
Over the past decade, Knack has established itself as a premier platform for student-led tutoring and peer learning, serving hundreds of campuses nationwide. The company partners with universities such as Fordham, Northeastern, the University of San Diego, the University of Florida, and Georgia Tech, among others. These collaborations have helped student tutors collectively earn millions of dollars while improving retention and graduation outcomes at partner institutions.
The leadership transition marks a new chapter for Knack as it builds on its strong foundation of academic partnerships and measurable impact. Megan Dusenbery, the incoming CEO, brings nearly two decades of experience in higher education leadership and partnership development. Before joining Knack, she served as Chief Partnerships Officer at the Association of College and University Educators (ACUE) and held senior positions at Kaplan, including Senior Vice President of Higher Education.
Under Dusenbery’s leadership, Knack plans to expand its footprint across universities, deepen its data-driven approach to student success, and further integrate its peer learning model into institutional strategies for academic and workforce readiness. The company’s platform helps institutions empower students to take active roles in their education, connecting academic achievement with career development.
As part of the deal, both Dusenbery and Robb Doub, General Partner at NMVP, have joined Knack’s Board of Directors. Qureshi will remain an active board member as Executive Chairman, supporting growth strategy and institutional relationships as Knack scales its operations and partnerships nationwide.
KEY QUOTES:
“I’m thrilled for this next chapter, for me and for the company. With nearly 20 years of experience partnering with higher education institutions, Megan brings a rare combination of domain depth and disciplined execution. I could not be more excited to support Knack in a new capacity under Megan’s leadership.”
Samyr Qureshi, Founder and Executive Chairman, Knack
“I’m honored to lead Knack’s talented team into this exciting new phase of growth. At this pivotal moment in higher education, it is more crucial than ever to invest in solutions that yield meaningful retention outcomes for students. What excites me most about Knack is that our platform not only delivers measurable retention outcomes for institutions but also creates paid high-impact job opportunities for students to lead, mentor, and gain real-world skills—impacting both student learning and workforce readiness.”
Megan Dusenbery, Chief Executive Officer, Knack
“Megan is the right leader for this phase. We’re looking forward to working with her and the team.”
Robb Doub, General Partner, New Markets Venture Partners
