If you are a fan of the punk scene from the early 2000s, you may recognize Nick Gross, the drummer for the band Goldfinger. He is now empowering young people to pursue their passions through his career exploration platform, Find Your Grind. The platform highlights alternative professions not usually emphasized in schools, including being a pop-punk band member, content creator, social media manager, and even a professional esports player.
The company announced a five million dollar Series A funding round on Tuesday, bringing its total funding to eight million dollars. The round was led by Echo Investment Capital, with support from Gross’ investment firm, Gross Labs. The investment will help expand the company’s career readiness programs across the United States.
Gross began his music career at age 17 when his high school band, Open Air Stereo, gained significant exposure after being featured on the MTV reality series Laguna Beach. He came up with the idea for Find Your Grind after bringing students into his studio and seeing firsthand the challenges they face when exploring career options, often due to a lack of exposure in traditional schools.
Young people are entering a rapidly changing world of work, Gross explained. As students prepare to leave school and enter their professional careers, many do so without a strong sense of who they are, what they want, or how to navigate their next steps. Find Your Grind gives them the tools to explore not just what careers are out there, but what paths suit their strengths, interests, and visions for the future.
Conventional career guidance often focuses on salaries and promotions, which can feel disconnected from the rapidly evolving job market the new generation is entering. Many students no longer aspire to become doctors, engineers, or lawyers. In fact, one report predicts that approximately 92 million jobs will not exist in the year 2030.
Traditional career exploration also tends to overlook the emotional aspect of choosing a career that aligns with a person’s values and desired lifestyle. The startup’s platform focuses on four key competencies: self-awareness, career awareness, social awareness, and action awareness. It also features a Lifestyle Assessment that helps students identify three lifestyle paths based on their preferences. For example, they might discover they align with the roles of an entertainer, a creator, or a humanitarian. Students then receive a tailored next-step plan for what to do after graduation.
Additionally, students can access videos and interactive lessons. A group of mentors provides practical advice about their own career beginnings and the steps they took to achieve success. Notable mentors include Tony Hawk, Tony Hoffman, and will.i.am, among others. An AI-powered Reflective Coach provides personalized feedback and encourages students to dive deeper into their answers for better insights.
Find Your Grind also runs workforce development initiatives, such as lifestyle fairs, that give students real-world experience. The company is rolling out its first program in Oklahoma City, working with local schools and training centers to help students discover job opportunities in their hometowns that align with their lifestyle preferences. The company plans to launch more programs in additional cities in the future.
So far, Find Your Grind has helped 100,000 students, according to the company. Gross said he hopes that over a million students will join the platform to become more future-ready.