In 2014, Philip Cutler and Roberto Cipriani founded Paper (originally known as GradeSlam) after recognizing a critical gap in educational equity: private tutoring was accessible only to families who could afford it. As a former teacher, Cutler understood that quality academic support could transform student outcomes - but it was unavailable to most learners. What began as a private tutoring marketplace evolved into something far more urgent when the COVID-19 pandemic exposed and amplified educational disparities nationwide. The founders realized they had to build a scalable solution that would democratize access to personalized academic support for every student, regardless of their family's resources.
Today, Paper partners with over 500 school districts across North America to provide an evidence-backed Educational Support System that preserves both instructional and relational continuity. Their GROW high-impact tutoring program delivers MTSS-aligned Tier 2 interventions through small-group instruction with consistent tutors, while their 24/7 platform offers on-demand support across all subjects. What sets Paper apart is their rigorous tutor training program - every tutor is an employee (not a contractor), thoroughly vetted through background checks and content knowledge assessments, and continuously coached on research-based pedagogy. The results speak for themselves: districts report 201% increases in grade-level proficiency within just 12 weeks, with measurable gains in i-Ready ELA and math scores. Backed by investors including IVP and SoftBank, and recognized with the NSSA Tutoring Program Design Badge from Stanford, Paper has proven that scalable, high-quality tutoring can close achievement gaps at unprecedented scale. Now under CEO Martina Tam, Paper continues to innovate with AI-powered teacher tools that reduce administrative workload while expanding their mission of building confidence for life, for every student.
