Zyra AI
Zyra AI is an AI-powered student guidance platform designed to simplify the path to college and career success. By combining personalized recommendations, real-time academic planning, and data-driven insights, Zyra helps students navigate everything from college applications and scholarships to career exploration and personal development — all through one intelligent and accessible platform.
Type
Year
Type
Problem
The college admissions process is one of the most consequential systems students navigate — yet it operates with fragmented information and hidden rules. Admissions planning was reactive. Students relied on static blog content, generic checklists, and overloaded school counselors. There was no continuous system that evolved with a student from freshman year through application season. The process rewarded those who understood it early. Everyone else was catching up.
Solution
Zyra is an AI-powered academic planning platform designed to guide students across their entire high school journey. Instead of one-time advice, Zyra works as a longitudinal system — learning who a student is, tracking their academic and extracurricular trajectory, and adapting recommendations dynamically over time. What began as a guidance tool is evolving into education infrastructure serving students, counselors, and institutions.
Design Process
Before building, I validated the problem directly — speaking with hundreds of students, private counselors, school administrators, and parents. This research informed Zyra's first product blueprint. I then led MVP development using V0, defining core features, designing system logic, and iterating based on live demos with students. For the beta, I directed UI/UX in Figma, translating architecture into intuitive flows before engineering handoff.
Input
I founded and led Zyra end-to-end — from product strategy and UI/UX direction to marketing and sales execution. I conducted 1,000+ cold calls, built a CRM of 20,000 institutions, and grew organic social to 500,000+ engagement points. I represented Zyra at Georgia Tech's Create-X Accelerator, secured a grant, and closed pilot agreements with four private schools. I currently serve as an advisor on brand, messaging, and pitch strategy.