Graddus rides ai to revolutionize university choices in spain
The weight of choosing a career path after high school is immense. For many in Spain, the decision – a direct consequence of the Selectividad exam – dictates not just their future earnings but their lifestyle and even happiness. A new platform, Graddus, aims to alleviate this pressure by leveraging artificial intelligence to guide students toward suitable academic routes.
Ai-powered guidance for a generation
Founded in 2023 by Manuel Toledo, Alberto Martín, and Pablo Fandiño, Graddus offers a unique approach to university and vocational training selection. The platform’s core is an ai algorithm that generates a personalized “hexagonal map,” drawing parallels to the FIFA video game's player profiles. This map highlights educational fields aligning with a student's skills, budget, and preferred location. The platform boasts a comprehensive database of public and private Spanish universities and vocational schools, now including master's programs – a rapidly growing area of study.
In 2025, approximately 120,000 students used Graddus, representing 15% of those taking the Selectividad. The company projects reaching 180,000 users this academic year. A €600,000 investment led by Successful, a venture capital firm, will fuel expansion into online guidance, strengthen the master's program focus, and refine services for international students, particularly those from Latin America, who now constitute half of some Spanish university enrollments.
The platform’s assessment relies on the Holland interest test, adapted for today’s fast-paced environment. It gathers data on student interests and conditions, linking them to available educational offerings. Graddus generates revenue by charging private institutions – universities and vocational schools – for visibility and student recruitment opportunities. Public institutions and students access the service at no cost.
Beyond algorithms: human validation
“We provide a map of possibilities, evaluating the student's profile and the ideal profile for each degree,” explains Toledo. The algorithm scores each discipline based on conversations with educators and professionals in those fields. Graddus emphasizes continuous feedback, regularly checking with students to assess the effectiveness of the guidance. 70% of users report feeling more confident about their chosen path after using the platform.
Toledo remains cautious about predicting the long-term impact of ai on education. He points to the failures of major financial institutions' forecasts regarding the future of work. Instead, Graddus focuses on blending market trends with current data to inform students about employability. The platform highlights a growing demand for online learning, driven by the flexibility desired by younger generations. The cost of living is also influencing choices, with Madrid losing ground as a study destination to more affordable cities. Vocational training is gaining prestige as a stepping stone to higher education. However, master's programs from top business schools like IE, IESE, and Esade command a different level of recognition.
The platform's commitment extends beyond mere data analysis. It’s about empowering students to make informed decisions, a crucial step in shaping their futures. The numbers speak for themselves: Graddus is rapidly becoming a key player in navigating the complex landscape of higher education in Spain, and its influence will only grow.