PACKED WALLET: Online discussion platform Packback has raised $4.2 million in a Series A round led by University Ventures. The Chicago-based startup, which also offers online textbooks, previously raised $4 million in funding from investors including Mark Cuban and Hyde Park Angels. This newest round brings Packback’s total funding to around $8.2 million.
A former contestant on the business reality show “Shark Tank,” Packback claims at least 70,000 students actively use the service during the academic year and at more than 50 campuses. The company’s digital discussion platform, called Packback Questions, is only available for students whose professor has adopted the platform. The company, founded in 2012, also offers digital textbooks and provides a price comparison tool for students and professors.
