Our Story
From a researcher
to a global platform
Before ApplyKite, there was just one person trying to figure the system out.
What sparked it all
a word from our CEO
Hi. I’m Shana, a postdoctoral researcher in London and co-founder of ApplyKite.
When I started applying for a PhD abroad, it was chaos. I’d spend hours searching scattered websites, juggling work and deadlines, only to miss real funded opportunities because the system made no sense. After months of frustration, I finally earned a principal scholarship and began my PhD in Electronic Engineering, researching biosensors for early cancer detection. My work led to publications, conference talks, and recognition from major science outlets. But what mattered more was what came next.
Students started reaching out. I began mentoring them, sharing everything I’d learned; how to find professors, what to write, what to avoid. That small group grew into a global community.
After years of mentoring, one thing was clear: the problem wasn’t access to information. It was the system itself. So I teamed up with a group of engineers, designers, and mentors to build ApplyKite; a platform to make this journey simpler for everyone.
Because we’ve been there. we know what it feels like to search in the dark. And we don’t want anyone else to go through it alone.
Shana, Co-founder of ApplyKite
Our journey
From a researcher struggling to find a PhD to an AI that learns with you.
2020
A Telegram channel
It started with a Telegram channel sharing funded positions and application advice. Interest came from everywhere.
35,000channel members
2022
A Telegram bot
A chatbot that found opportunities for students. So many of them asked us for a website that we built one.
15,000+bot users
2023
Our first website
The first version of ApplyKite, with a word-for-word keyword search across openings.
5,000users in its first year
2025
Semantic search
A search engine that understands what you mean, on an accurate and comprehensive database of openings, professors and grants.
80,000+users
2026
ApplyKite Twin
An AI assistant that learns with each student, from the first search to the visa. By June, over 2,000 students had paid for ApplyKite.
100,000+users on the website
120,000+followers on social media
100,000+ students helped, and we won't stop.
We've heard more than 200 success stories from students who used ApplyKite. Every one of them gives us more energy to keep going.
- students helped
- 100,000+
- success stories we've heard
- 200+
- paid users by June 2026
- 2,000+
- followers on social media
- 120,000+
Supported by
We’ve completed all three rounds of
Microsoft startup funding program
This achievement highlights Microsoft’s
confidence in our vision and the impact of
our technology.
Real applicants. Real progress
Ehsan
I received a fully funded PhD admission from UCL. Due to my busy work schedule, I had very limited time to search for positions, mostly at night. I relied entirely on ApplyKite to find PhD positions and had a one-year Premium subscription. I secured a PhD admission at AUT in New Zealand, where I am currently in the process of applying for a scholarship with a professor. I found that professor through ApplyKite.
Samireh
I’ve been using Kite to look for positions in medical virology and biomedical sciences. Through the platform, I managed to connect with professors and had interviews with Mississippi State University, University of Houston, Purdue University, and also universities in Australia like Adelaide. I also got some technical support through my purchase, which made the process easier for me. The platform usually makes it simpler to find opportunities in different countries, and it has given me access to interviews that were useful for my applications.
Shakiba
The idea of the platform is honestly really good, and their support team is one of the few that actually replies, helps, and treats you nicely, that makes a big difference. It’s a useful place to start searching for professors or PhD spots, but you still have to double-check info yourself. Great people behind it, just need a bit of data polishing.
Alberto
Before this, I was applying to positions without considering who I’d be working with. ApplyKite helped me see an approach I hadn’t thought about.
Erfan
With the help of Apply Kite, I could get an admission from Computational Sciences from UMass Boston. Before, I had to check multiple websites to find positions, but with this website, I can easily find my desired positions in different countries using filters.
Mahur
Kite helped with my PhD applications in Chemical Engineering for programs in the UK, Germany, Sweden, and Italy. The AI chatbot gave me solid suggestions to sharpen my SOPs and emails, making them clear and concise. I didn’t know to contact professors first, but the supervisor discovery tool set me straight. Kite’s tools and team kept me on track and made the process much smoother. Great for anyone applying to academic programs.
Mahdi
I secured a PhD position at Southern Illinois University through Apply Kite. It helped me find a professor I wouldn’t have discovered otherwise. Last year, I applied to seven universities without professor interviews and got all rejections. I later realized many professors encourage applications but accept very few students. This year, I prioritized interviews first and received an offer after my second one. Apply Kite made finding professors much faster and helped me broaden my research scope.
Aref
Kite’s AI helped me out with my PhD applications. The chat wasn’t my thing at first, but the website was super useful. It found me two opportunities, one at A*STAR in Singapore and one at the University of Otago in New Zealand. I got to talk with both supervisors, and they were interested in working with me, which was cool.It made reaching out to supervisors and finding options so much easier. I’m still using it for my proposals and applications, and it’s been a big help.
Lili Jafari
I started using Kite when I was already tired of emailing professors on my own. Honestly, not all the outcomes worked, some professors never replied, some interviews didn’t lead anywhere, but at least I finally got a few proper responses and interviews.
47 countries covered
We surface opportunities from 47 countries. not just the obvious ones.
Privacy isn't a checkbox
It is built into every layer
All your personal info is encrypted, access is strictly limited to essential team members only, and your data is never sold.
Want more info? Review our Terms & Conditions, Privacy Policy, or contact our compliance team directly.
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GDPR-compliant