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About Us

Our Mission

Why We Exist

Our mission is to advance educational opportunities and empower individuals to give back to their communities through a culture of mentorship and service. We operate as a volunteer-driven network connecting high school and college students with younger peers for tutoring and guidance. Alumni and professionals share their expertise to inspire and guide students in exploring educational and career paths. By fostering a supportive,knowledge-sharing community, we aim to nurture future leaders, enhance access to education,and promote a lifelong commitment to learning and community service.

Our Story

Our Story: How It All Started

As first-generation college students, we know firsthand how difficult it can be to navigate the education system without proper guidance and support. Growing up, our immigrant parents did their best to help us academically, but like many parents—immigrant or not—they had to rely on external tutoring resources while balancing work.

Fortunately, we were able to afford some tutoring services, but we quickly realized that this was a privilege not everyone had. Some tutors were so expensive that even when we desperately needed support, they were simply out of reach.

Now, as students at the University of Michigan, we regularly work and volunteer as tutors. Through these experiences, we’ve seen just how many students face the same challenges we did—struggling academically but unable to access the help they need due to financial barriers. Looking back, we often ask ourselves: What if we had someone to guide us earlier? What if we had been prepared for high school and college before it felt like it was too late? While college prep programs exist, many are costly, and high school counseling often doesn’t begin until junior year—when early preparation could have made all the difference.

These realizations inspired us to create NextGen Matters, a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing high-quality tutoring and mentorship at an affordable price. Our mission is simple: to empower students with the resources, guidance, and support they need to overcome challenges, explore opportunities, and achieve their goals.

By making education more accessible and mentorship widely available, we hope to create a ripple effect—where support and inspiration spread from one student to another, helping build a brighter future for everyone.

We believe that no student should feel lost or left behind simply because they lack resources. Every young person deserves a mentor who believes in them, a role model who guides them, and a community that lifts them up. By bridging these gaps, we’re not just shaping academic success—we’re shaping futures, unlocking potential, and changing lives for generations to come.

The Founders

Ethan Luu

Hi, I’m Ethan Luu, Founder and CEO of NextGen Matters. My brother and I started this company with the vision of making education more accessible and meaningful for both students and tutors. I earned my Master’s in Supply Chain Management from the University of Michigan and my Bachelor’s in Computer Science from the University of California, Davis. Over the years, I have worked as a Project Manager at ezyVet, a Community Associate at WeWork, and a Student Supply Chain and Strategy Consultant at Goodwill’s Green Works, gaining experience across different industries. But one of the most impactful experiences I have had was my time as a tutor at Ringle. Seeing my students grow and succeed was incredibly fulfilling, and it made me realize how powerful learning can be when students receive the right support.

What made tutoring even more special was the incredible feedback I received from students. Hearing how much they appreciated the classes, how their confidence grew, and how they started to enjoy learning in a new way was truly rewarding. That feeling of making a real difference is something I want to help others experience.

That is why my brother and I created NextGen Matters. We want to connect students with the extra help they need while giving passionate individuals the opportunity to teach and inspire from a young age. Education should be accessible, engaging, and rewarding for everyone involved, and I am excited to help make that happen.

Zachary Luu

Hello, I’m Zach Luu, the co-founder of NextGen Matters. I am currently a senior at the University of Michigan studying Economics and Spanish, and I will be attending law school this fall.

I have tutored for as long as I can remember, and I have come to really enjoy it. I started off tutoring my younger sister and cousins, and eventually began tutoring formally when I got to Michigan. I was a tutor for the Academic Success Program, as well as a volunteer for Friends of Guatemala, an on-campus club dedicated to teaching English to less fortunate Guatemalan students.

I love tutoring because it allows me to make an impact on student’s lives by helping them build confidence in their abilities and reach their academic goals. It also reinforces my own love of learning and my commitment to giving back, which ultimately inspired me to co-found NextGen Matters. Through this organization, we hope to continue making education more accessible and empowering the next generation of students.