HelloCollege Founder Spotlighted by Shark Tank's Kevin Harrington

CHICAGO, Aug. 5, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Shark Tank original Shark Kevin Harrington is shining a spotlight on HelloCollege, a Chicago-based company helping families take control of one of the most high-stakes and stressful experiences of their child's life—applying to college. In a recent episode of American Entrepreneur, Harrington featured HelloCollege, a leading college admissions consulting company founded by Northwestern University graduate Kevin Krebs.

Harrington created American Entrepreneur to highlight mission-driven businesses making a real difference—and HelloCollege stood out.

"When I saw what HelloCollege was doing to help families simplify the college process, I knew this was a service worth highlighting," said Harrington. "Kevin Krebs and his team are doing incredible work guiding families through one of the most stressful and high-stakes moments in their child's life."

In the interview, Krebs shares the personal story that led him to launch HelloCollege. As a first-generation college student and the son of World War II refugees, he earned a scholarship to Northwestern and began his career mentoring underserved youth in Chicago. He started HelloCollege in 2012 with a mission to help families—especially those in the Chicago area—navigate the increasingly complex college admissions process.

Since then, HelloCollege has supported thousands of families in the Chicago area and across the country, helping students navigate an increasingly competitive, confusing, and costly college admissions process. What sets the company apart is its relationship-first approach: each student is surrounded by a team that includes college counselors, academic and test prep tutors, essay coaches, and financial aid experts.

Krebs also shared a story about one of his favorite students—Caesar Almeida, a first-generation Hispanic student from the Chicago suburbs who earned admission and substantial financial aid to Northwestern University. Almeida later became a Fulbright Scholar.

"I cried when he got in," Krebs said. "That's why I started HelloCollege."

With acceptance rates at top-tier schools dipping below 10%, HelloCollege provides expert guidance to help students stand out in competitive pools—while also reducing stress for students and parents alike. Kevin and his team support both students and parents, making the journey less overwhelming and more strategic from start to finish.

Watch the full interview between Kevin Harrington and Kevin Krebs here.

SOURCE HelloCollege