Support

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Tessera?

Tessera is your AI career-discovery companion for teens aged 14 to 19 who are considering college and graduate school. Through short, casual chats it learns what makes you you: your interests, your strengths, the way you think. No tests, no quizzes — just conversations about your life, on your schedule. It helps you discover the careers — from engineering and design to medicine, law, and research — that fit who you are.

How does it work?

You start with a quick setup under 10 minutes. After that, you come back for short sessions that build your profile piece by piece. Each conversation adds to Tessera's understanding of your interests and personality using proven frameworks from vocational and personality psychology. Over time, those insights map to real college-track career paths, and (for some students) graduate-school routes.

What age group is Tessera for?

Tessera is designed for students aged 14 to 19 (grades 9 through pre-college, including gap year) who are thinking about college and what comes after. The conversation style automatically adapts to the student's age — younger teens get more playful, scenario-based conversations, older students get more direct, practical guidance about majors, schools, and the careers a 4-year degree (or beyond) can lead to.

What if I don't want to go to college?

Tessera is built for teens whose plans involve a 4-year degree (and sometimes graduate school — a master's, PhD, MD, or J.D.). If your path is trade school, immediate workforce, military, or something else outside the college track, Tessera's recommendations won't be the right fit. We say this so you don't waste your time.

Is my data safe?

Yes. Tessera does not collect any personally identifiable information from teens: no last name, no email, no phone number, no address. The data we do collect is stored securely in the cloud with encryption. We never sell or disclose data for advertising, analytics, or marketing. Your conversations are processed by our AI provider (Anthropic) in real time and are never shared with parents, schools, or advertisers. See our Privacy Policy for full details.

How long does it take?

The initial setup takes under 10 minutes. After that, sessions are 8-20 minutes each, with a recommended pace of a few sessions per week. Most students complete their initial profile over 7-10 sessions across several weeks. But Tessera keeps getting smarter the longer you use it, and insights improve over months.

What platforms is Tessera available on?

Tessera is being built for iOS and Android. Stay tuned for launch announcements.

Does Tessera replace a guidance counselor?

No — Tessera is a complement to your school counselor or college advisor, not a replacement. School counselors typically work with large caseloads, so the kind of ongoing, between-session attention Tessera provides is hard to deliver at scale. Tessera is always available, builds on every session, and adapts over time, giving a counselor a richer starting point for every meeting.

Can parents see my conversations?

No. Your conversations with Tessera are always private. If you choose to share your profile with a parent, they only see your interest and personality insights, never the conversations themselves. And sharing is always your choice.