If you’ve ever wondered what really goes into building a standout test prep company — one that goes beyond cookie-cutter methods — you’ll want to listen to this conversation. On the New York Business Podcast, Nicholas LaPoma, founder of Curvebreakers Test Prep, sits down to talk about how he built his business, what differentiates it, and how they’re guiding students through an evolving test prep landscape.
Watch the full episode here:
What You’ll Learn From This Episode
Here are some of the highlights and key takeaways:
Founder Story of Curvebreakers & Motivation
- Nicholas shares what inspired him to start Curvebreakers — not just to help students get better scores, but to do so in a way that respects individual learning styles.
- He discusses early challenges in the business and the decisions that shaped its growth.
Data-Driven, Personalized Learning
- One of Curvebreakers’ core differentiators: using diagnostic testing, real performance data, and ongoing feedback to tailor prep plans.
- How performance metrics are used not just to measure improvement, but to guide strategy.
Curvebreakers Adapting to Changes in Standardized Testing
- The shift to the Digital SAT (and how curriculum, test structure, and prep strategies have to evolve).
- Challenges and opportunities this presents for students, tutors, and test prep providers alike.
Company Culture & Tutor Training
- How Curvebreakers recruits and trains its tutors to not only know the material, but to teach it with empathy, clarity, and effectiveness.
- Role of transparency with students/parents — communication, expectation-setting, regular check-ins.
Scaling Sustainably
- Insights into balancing quality and growth — how to expand services, manage remote or online components, partnership with schools.
- Referrals and reputation: how much of their growth comes from word-of-mouth vs. formal marketing.
Curvebreakers Free & Accessible Resources
- Nicholas talks about the importance of making high-quality prep resources available to more students — not only through paid courses but through free diagnostics, practice exams, self-study materials, etc.
- How they use digital tools (online diagnostics, remote proctoring, virtual classrooms) to reach students beyond their immediate geography.
In the world of test prep, what often makes the difference isn’t just what material you’re studying, but how you study it, who’s guiding you, and how attuned the process is to your needs. This NY Business Podcast episode with Nicholas LaPoma gives you behind-the-scenes access to how Curvebreakers is doing more than teaching test strategies — they’re crafting a system built for each student.
If you’re gearing up for an exam, or just curious about what makes great test prep, this is a must-watch.