Welcome to Packback
Built by educators, evolved through innovation, and shaping the future of AI-powered teaching and learning.
Built on Curiosity, Driven by Purpose
At Packback, our mission is simple: to empower every student to be fearlessly curious and find their unique voice.
These words guide everything we do, from everyday decisions to long-term strategy. Since our founding over a decade ago, we’ve seen the powerful impact of creating intentional learning environments where students can explore ideas autonomously and develop their voice.
As a pedagogy-first company, we see AI as a tool that serves a greater purpose. Our technology is designed to shorten feedback loops, strengthen writing and critical thinking skills, and support instructors in building trust-based, student-centered classrooms.
We are educators building tools for educators, guided by curiosity, integrity, and a deep belief in student potential.
The Story of Packback
The Early Years
Packback was born in a college classroom at Illinois State University. Founded by four students — Mike Shannon, Kasey Gandham, Nick Currier, and Jessica Tenuta — we started as a textbook rental platform aimed at making education more affordable.
Shark Tank Pitch
That bold idea led to national exposure when Mike and Kasey appeared on Shark Tank in 2014 and secured an investment from Mark Cuban. But what mattered most wasn’t just the funding — it was the validation of a bigger idea: students deserve better tools to support how they think, learn, and grow.
The Pivot to AI
As the team grew, so did the vision. In 2016, we launched our first Instructional AI product: Packback Questions, a discussion platform designed to spark student curiosity and improve critical thinking through AI-supported moderation and feedback.
The shift wasn’t just from books to software; it was from access to outcomes. And it laid the foundation for what Packback would become: a company focused on helping students write, think, and engage more deeply — with the support of ethical, pedagogy-aligned AI.
Investing in AI to Support Learning at Scale
The success of Packback Questions opened the door to something bigger: using AI to improve student writing and reduce instructor workload.
In 2022, Packback launched Packback Writing, our long-form writing tool (formerly known as Deep Dives). Built with and for instructors, Packback Writing offered real-time writing feedback for students and AI-assisted grading for educators — all grounded in research-based writing instruction.
This moment marked our full commitment to Instructional AI — technology that enhances teaching, builds critical thinking, and prioritizes integrity over automation.
Where We Are Today
Today, Packback is used by thousands of instructors and hundreds of institutions — from community colleges to R1 universities and K–12 districts — to improve writing, boost engagement, and uphold academic integrity.
In 2024, we launched Packback Originality, a proactive plagiarism prevention tool that helps students check their work for originality and make adjustments before they submit. Unlike punitive detection-only tools, Originality is built to teach — not just catch.
We’ve also deepened our commitment to responsible AI through whitepapers, policy frameworks, and institutional partnerships. As one of the first companies to define and deploy Instructional AI, Packback continues to lead the conversation on what thoughtful, student-first AI should look like.
What Hasn’t Changed
Through all the growth, one thing has remained the same: our mission to empower every student to become a strong thinker, writer, and learner — and to build tools that support educators without replacing them.
We’re proud of where we’ve been. But we’re even more excited about what’s next.