Paper
K-12 edtech: 24/7 online tutoring and homework help for school districts. Founded 2014, Montreal. SoftBank/IVP-backed (~$1.5B peak), then contracted sharply through repeated layoffs; now US-focused.
What is Paper?
Paper is a K-12 education-technology company that provides what it calls an "Educational Support System": 24/7 online tutoring, homework help, and writing feedback for students. Its model is business-to-government/school: districts and schools pay for Paper, and it is then free to their students, who can chat with tutors or submit work for feedback at any hour. Paper was founded in 2014 in Montreal (originally as GradeSlam) by Philip Cutler and Roberto Cipriani. It is important to be honest about its trajectory, because it shapes what working there is like. During the pandemic Paper grew explosively, from roughly 50,000 to more than two million students, and it raised about US$380 million in 2021 and 2022 from investors including SoftBank and IVP at a valuation around US$1.5 billion. Since then it has contracted sharply as pandemic-era school funding dried up: it has gone through multiple rounds of layoffs since early 2023 (from about 500 staff to roughly 180 head-office staff, then a further ~45% cut in August 2024), laid off its entire Canadian tutor workforce while narrowing its focus to the United States, and saw both co-founders depart. Founder and CEO Philip Cutler was replaced (first by interim CEO Rich Yang, then by CEO Martina Tam, a Silicon Valley edtech veteran). Anyone considering Paper should factor in this instability alongside the mission.
Mission & values
Give every student access to real-time, around-the-clock academic support, regardless of background, delivered through their school.
Qualifications
Paper has two kinds of roles. The first is remote tutors: people who help K-12 students over chat with homework, concepts, and writing feedback across subjects. Tutoring is remote and typically part-time/contract, scheduled around demand; after the 2024 restructuring the company laid off its Canadian tutors and focuses on US-based tutoring, so tutor eligibility is US-oriented, requires strong subject knowledge (and often being a student or graduate in the relevant field), and roles may be limited given the contraction. The second is corporate and product roles at its (much smaller, post-layoff) head office: software engineering, data, product and design, plus education/curriculum, sales and partnerships with school districts, customer success, operations, and G&A. Application flow lives at paper.co (careers) and its LinkedIn page. Given the repeated layoffs and the shift to a US focus, check carefully what is actually open and where, and go in with realistic expectations about stability. A genuine interest in education and, for tutors, the ability to explain clearly to students are the core signals.
Leadership
Martina Tam
Chief Executive Officer
A Silicon Valley edtech veteran who became CEO of Paper after the company's restructuring, succeeding interim CEO Rich Yang and co-founder Philip Cutler, to refocus the business on the US market.
Hiring process
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1
Apply at paper.co careers or LinkedIn
Tutors: apply to remote tutoring roles (US-focused after the 2024 restructuring). Corporate: browse engineering, product, education, sales, and operations roles. Check what is actually open given the contraction.
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2
Screening
Tutors: subject and writing assessments plus a background check. Corporate: a recruiter screen on role fit, location, work authorization, remote setup, and pay.
About 7 days
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3
Assessment or interview
Tutors: a demonstration of how you explain concepts and give feedback. Corporate: role-specific interviews (technical, product, or go-to-market).
About 10 days
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4
Team interview / onboarding
Tutors: onboarding to the platform and tutoring guidelines once approved. Corporate: team interviews and offer.
About 10 days
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5
Work
Tutors: remote, part-time/contract hours scheduled around student demand. Corporate: standard employment. Availability of ongoing work depends on the company's current footprint.
Funding
Awards & recognition
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Raised ~US$380M at a ~US$1.5B valuation; grew to 2M+ students in the pandemic · 2022
Paper
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Since contracted sharply through repeated layoffs; refocused on the US · 2024
Paper
Company information
- Industry: EdTech / Online Tutoring (K-12)
- Location: Montreal, Canada (US-focused; remote tutoring, US-based)
- Founded: 2014
- Company size: 51-200
- Website: paper.co ↗
- LinkedIn: Company page ↗