Michael Charles – Akknoledge

Interview by Ananya “Anna” Ramesh

What is your business?

Akknoledge is an online platform for college students that helps them find study partners directly at their university. It also includes an AI-powered study tool called Mastermind that teaches students how to use AI to improve their learning, stay organized, and prepare for exams.  Mastermind works by a student uploading their notes or lecture material.

From there, mastermind can then break down the material and explain it to users, it turn the notes into a podcast that students can listen to auditorially, it can make a study guide from the notes, and it can make practice tests and quizzes that students can take on Akknoledge, and it will grade them and give them feedback of what they need to improve upon.

Why did you choose to start this business and what inspired you?

During my freshman year, I took some difficult computer science and math classes and did not know anyone to study with. I was also shy, so meeting people for study support was challenging. Once I finally found study partners for one of my classes, it dramatically improved my exam preparation.

I started Akknoledge because I want students to have an easier way to find support and community. No one should have to struggle alone, especially when it comes to studying.

That experience helped me grow in several ways. It pushed me out of my comfort zone and showed me that collaboration is one of the most powerful tools for learning. I realized how much more confident, motivated, and prepared I felt when I wasn’t studying in isolation. It also taught me the importance of creating opportunities for others, because I knew many students were facing the same challenges I once did.

This growth inspired me to build a platform that makes it simple to connect with peers, share knowledge, and build real academic communities. My personal struggle became the foundation for a solution that now helps hundreds of students find the support I once had to search for on my own.

Were there any mentors or influences that helped you along the way?

Yes. My friends and family helped me shape the idea, gave feedback on the design, and supported me throughout the development process. My parents taught me how to strive for excellence and how to work hard, which became the foundation for building something as ambitious as Akknoledge. They always encouraged me to push past challenges and stay focused on my goals, and that mindset helped me stay committed through long nights of coding, testing, and improving the platform.

I also learned a lot from the students, professors, and mentors I met along the way. Their honest feedback helped me refine the features, improve the user experience, and better understand what students truly needed. Each conversation gave me new insight and motivated me to keep improving Akknoledge. Together, these influences shaped both the platform and the person I’m becoming as a student founder.

Are there resources at UIC that have helped you with your business?

Yes. UIC Innovation and the Spark Series have both played a major role in helping me develop Akknoledge by providing guidance, feedback, and valuable resources. The Spark Series workshops taught me how to pitch clearly and concisely, which directly contributed to us winning three pitch competitions. They also helped me learn how to identify and validate real problems, and that knowledge was critical in building Mastermind, our AI-powered study tool.

Through the program, I was also connected with people who offered great business advice, including Steve Bob and other experienced mentors. Their insights helped me think more strategically about growth, user needs, and long-term sustainability. Overall, these UIC resources significantly accelerated both my personal development and the progress of Akknoledge.

What is your major and how has it influenced your business?

I am majoring in Computer Science. My major gave me the skills to build Akknoledge from the ground up. It has also allowed me to create something that can impact thousands of students directly from my own computer.

Building the business has also strengthened my interest in software development and pushed me to keep learning more.

What was one of the highlights of your business so far?

Reaching more than 1,500 users and seeing that 73% of students reported grade improvements has been one of the biggest highlights. Knowing that something I built is helping students succeed is very meaningful to me.

Do you plan to continue your business after graduation?

Yes. We plan to continue growing Akknoledge and bring it to universities across the United States. We’re doing this by building partnerships with departments, tutoring centers, and student organizations so that schools can use Akknoledge as an official resource for academic support. We’re also continuing to improve our platform, especially Mastermind, our AI-powered study tool, to make studying easier, more accessible, and more personalized for every student.

Expanding is important because the challenges we solve aren’t unique to one campus. Students everywhere struggle to find study partners, feel isolated in large classes, or don’t know where to go for help. I want Akknoledge to make a national impact by giving students a stronger sense of community, improving their confidence, and helping them succeed academically. Long-term, I want Akknoledge to be a platform that changes the way students collaborate and learn by making support easy to find no matter where they go to school.

What is the big dream for your business?

The big dream is for Akknoledge to become one of the most important educational platforms for students. We want to support students from their academic journey all the way to their professional careers and help guide them every step of the way. Our long-term vision is to create a unified platform where students can find study partners, receive personalized AI study support, access mentorship, and get real guidance from professionals in the fields they want to enter.

Ultimately, we want Akknoledge to be the place students rely on for community, learning support, and career development. Whether a student needs help preparing for an exam, understanding a difficult concept, choosing a major, or navigating internships and job searches, we want them to feel like they never have to figure it out alone. Our dream is to empower millions of students with the tools, connections, and confidence to succeed—academically and professionally.