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Packback's Overview

Total employees145
HeadquartersChicago
Founded2014

Packback is an award-winning AI-powered learning platform designed to improve student curiosity, critical thinking, and writing skills. Used by hundreds of higher education institutions and K-12 schools, Packback's core products facilitate engaging online discussions (Packback Questions) and provide AI-driven writing feedback (Packback Deep Dives). The platform encourages students to ask thoughtful questions, engage in meaningful dialogue, and develop their writing proficiency through instant, constructive feedback. Packback's mission is to awaken and fuel lifelong curiosity in every student. In August 2023, Packback was acquired by Cengage Group, furthering its potential to impact education at scale.

Where is Packback's Headquarters?

HQ Function

The Chicago headquarters serves as the primary hub for product development, AI research, instructional design, engineering, sales, marketing, and operations for the Packback platform within Cengage Group.

Notable Features:

Located in a modern office building in Chicago's Loop, the office likely features collaborative workspaces, meeting rooms, and facilities designed to foster innovation and teamwork, typical of a technology-focused company.

Work Culture:

Packback fosters a mission-driven, collaborative, and innovative work culture. Employees are passionate about education and leveraging technology to improve learning outcomes. The company values curiosity, continuous learning, and a growth mindset. Packback has embraced a remote-first approach for many roles, promoting flexibility while maintaining a strong sense of team cohesion anchored by its Chicago hub.

HQ Significance:

The Chicago headquarters is central to Packback's strategic operations and product innovation. Its location in a major US city with a strong tech and education ecosystem supports talent acquisition and industry connections.

Values Reflected in HQ: The headquarters and company operations reflect values such as a commitment to education, innovation in AI, fostering curiosity, collaboration, and a student-centric approach. The environment is designed to support agile development and teamwork to achieve its educational mission.

Location:

Packback's AI-powered learning platform is primarily utilized by higher education institutions and K-12 schools across North America, particularly in the United States and Canada. While its user base of students and educators may be geographically diverse as the platform is accessible globally to registered users, its direct operational and sales presence is concentrated in North America. As part of Cengage Group, its reach and impact are further extended.

Street Address:

125 S Clark St, Suite 1700

City:

Chicago

State/Province:

Illinois

Country:

USA

Packback's Global Presence

Buying Intent Signals for Packback

Highperformr Signals uncover buying intent and give you clear insights to target the right accounts at the right time — helping your sales, marketing, and GTM teams close more deals, faster.

Notable news
Hiring actively
Corporate Finance
Corporate Finance
Corporate Finance
Corporate Finance
Corporate Finance
*Example signal, not calculated in real time

Executive Team of Packback

As of April 2025, Packback' leadership includes:

Mike Shannon - Co-founder & CEO, Packback (within Cengage Group)
Jessica Tenuta - Co-founder & Chief Product Officer, Packback (within Cengage Group)
Kelsey Behringer - Chief Operating Officer, Packback (within Cengage Group)
Craig Booth - Chief Technology Officer, Packback (within Cengage Group)
Dr. Nick Ladendorf - Chief Academic Officer, Packback (within Cengage Group)
Kasey Gandham - Co-founder & Board Member

Investors of Packback

Packback has been backed by several prominent investors over the years, including:

Mark Cuban
University Ventures
Hyde Park Venture Partners
GSV Ventures (formerly GSV AcceleraTE)
Rethink Education
Wildcat Capital Management
Wintrust Ventures
Howard Tullman
Service Provider Capital
Network Ventures

Executive New Hires/Exits in the Last 12 Months

Hire0
Exits0

The most significant development in the last 12 months was Packback's acquisition by Cengage Group in August 2023. The existing Packback executive team largely remained in place post-acquisition to continue leading Packback's mission and operations as a distinct unit within Cengage. No other major C-suite hires or exits have been publicly announced.

Technology (Tech Stack) used by Packback

Discover the tools Packback uses. Highperformr reveals the technologies powering your target accounts — helping your sales, marketing, and GTM teams prioritize smarter and close faster.

Packback Email Formats and Examples

Packback primarily uses the packback.co domain for its email communications. Common email formats for employees are believed to include [first]@packback.co and [first].[last]@packback.co.

[first]@packback.co or [first].[last]@packback.co

Format

mike@packback.co

Example

80%

Success rate

News and media

Cengage GroupAugust 1, 2023

Packback News: Cengage Group Completes Acquisition of Packback

Cengage Group announced it has completed its acquisition of Packback, an AI-powered teaching and learning platform. Packback's platform fosters curiosity and critical thinking in students through online discussion and writing assignments, aligning with Cengage's mission to support learners....more

GSV (via PRNewswire)January 24, 2023

Packback News: Packback Recognized in GSV EdTech 150 List of Most Transformational Growth Companies in Digital Learning

Packback was named to the 2023 GSV EdTech 150, a prestigious list of the world's most transformational growth companies in digital learning. This recognition highlighted Packback's impact on improving student engagement and critical thinking skills through its innovative AI platform....more

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