An ode to ClusterFlunk, Iowa’s former favorite start-up

Final exam season is rolling around. Students are starting to prepare for the last few weeks of the school year without ClusterFlunk for the very first time.

If you are unfamiliar with ClusterFlunk, it’s an online educational platform that allows students to connect with their classmates and share lecture notes, past exams, study guides, and is basically a holy grail for study periods.

Basically, it makes it ten times easier for students to understand their course material since they’re able to contact their fellow peers who also may or may not be procrastinating on studying for exams and projects.

Naturally, the clever start-up was created by two of our very own University of Iowa students, Aj Nelson and Joe Dallago. Go Hawks.

Aj and Joe at the ClusterFlunk launch party

Unfortunately, ClusterFlunk had to shut down at the end of 2015 due to investors and the team realizing that ClusterFlunk wouldn’t be able to effectively monetize its education-focused products, making this semester the first semester without it.

So, here’s a little tribute to the good ole’ ClusterFlunk that helped numerous students improve their grades and even meet new people.

Laurin Arvesen, Senior, Communications

“Well I thought ClusterFlunk was a great way to connect and network with classmates.  College is so much different than high school in the sense that it’s harder to go up to a random person and ask for notes or help with homework. ClusterFlunk made that very easy and accessible.

“The website was easy to use and very organized. Now that it’s gone and there’s no alternative that compares to it. #bringitback.”

Ashley Detterman, Senior, Enterprise Leadership with a Non-profit certificate

“I thought ClusterFlunk was really helpful.  Whenever I needed to study for a class and put in some serious time, I was able to log on and get all of my classes in order. Now that it’s gone, I’m really disappointed. I used it daily and it helped me keep my school work organized.”

Ashley and myself

Mystica Barrera, Junior, Health & Human Physiology

“It was useful because there was a variety of notes from different people’s perspectives.  I took advantage if any practice exams and any notes that went over a lecture that I had missed.”

Yes, it has been a rough semester without you, ClusterFlunk, but I’m positive the co-founders, Nelson and Dallago, have some amazing ideas coming up.  I personally wouldn’t have the guts to do what these guys did at such a young age, but it sure is eye-opening to know people who have risked so much for trusting and believing in themselves.

When asking Aj what has been the most rewarding in starting/running ClusterFlunk, he said, “Definitely making a difference in our users lives. Through surveys, 65% of students that used ClusterFlunk said is impacted their grades in a positive way, and 35% of them said that they made at least one new friend in real life all because of ClusterFlunk. That’s some powerful stuff. That’s what we live for.”

These guys are pretty fearless when it comes to taking huge chances for their business to even going skydiving. They truly have inspired me to believe in myself and to continuously move forward even if all else fails.

Dallago, Nelson, & myself after we just got done skydiving for the first time!
Joe Dallago (left), Me (middle), & AJ Nelson (right)

R.I.P. ClusterFlunk, you’ll always be in our hearts. Thank you for saving me and many other students from stressing out and thank you for creating an environment that’s so student friendly.

ClusterFlunk may be gone, but its bright ideas still live on stronger than ever.