We started StreetSmart as students trying to break into investment banking. Like a lot of people, we had no idea where to begin. We followed guides that were outdated, sat through info sessions that didn’t answer real questions, and spent hours sending cold emails that rarely got a response.

The process felt scattered and inconsistent. Everyone seemed to have a different version of what mattered. Some people had help from career centers or alumni, others didn't. It was hard to know if we were doing the right things or falling behind.

The more time we spent going through the process, the more obvious it became that most of the stress came from not knowing what mattered. The application process was confusing, the interview prep felt outdated, and the guidance we got often depended on who we happened to know.

We started building StreetSmart because we wanted something better – not just for ourselves, but for the people coming up behind us. We wanted to create a place where students could stay organized, understand what firms were looking for, and actually feel prepared going into interviews.

We’re still building based on that same idea. That the process should be more transparent, more accessible, and more aligned with how students actually experience it.