How Nectir is Leading the Charge for Responsible Classroom AI

The edtech startup has gained a strong following of educators and students alike by building an AI platform that improves grades and engagement

July 7, 2025 - The AI Journal

As schools across the country race to integrate artificial intelligence into their classrooms, educators and researchers alike are studying how it will affect learning outcomes. Recent studies show classroom AI use can be both a double edged sword, if used properly it can be a force multiplier, acting as a 24/7 tutor. On the other hand, if left unchecked, it can curtail learning by acting as a shortcut for students. 

While many of the large tech companies are deploying consumer-grade chatbots in the classroom with little oversight and education-specific features, one AI startup is taking a different approach. 

Enter Nectir, a UCSB-born startup that has developed one of the first classroom-native AI platforms that pairs custom AI teaching assistants with each course’s actual syllabus – so students get instant, vetted help while schools maintain full control over data.

Founded by Kavitta Ghai and Jordan Long, the company believes this school-first approach will help drive both better learning outcomes and resource allocation for schools, and they have the data to back it up. 

AI as a 24/7 Learning Companion

Nectir CEO Kavitta Ghai believes AI should supplement, not supplant, instructors. “We see AI as a 24/7 support system for teachers and students,” she says. “It answers questions, explains concepts in plain language, and reinforces what’s actually taught in class, any hour of the day, freeing up faculty to focus on discussion, feedback, and high-impact teaching.”

Under the hood, Nectir’s platform connects to each institution’s learning management system (Canvas, Blackboard, etc.) and ingests course materials. Instructors spin up a private AI assistant trained solely on their own lectures, readings, and assignments. When a student asks about last week’s case study or theoretical framework, Nectir draws only on that class’s content, eliminating distracting off-topic responses.

Improved Outcomes, Not Distraction

One of the biggest concerns around classroom AI is that it devolves into doing the students work for them. Nectir avoids that pitfall by tightly coupling its assistants to course materials and enforcing strict FERPA-compliance. “When built responsibly, AI doesn’t distract; it enhances,” Ghai notes. 

Nectir’s results are already impressive: at Los Angeles Pacific University, GPAs rose by 20%, and self-reported motivation climbed 36% in courses using the platform. In a pilot across the 116-campus California Community College system, one of the largest public-education AI trial in U.S. history, students with Nectir passed at a 70% rate versus 52.9% without it. Faculty rated the tool 4.15 out of 5 for classroom usefulness.

“Nectir AI has become a constant companion,” says one student with ADHD, “helping me focus and understand assignments without re-reading instructions ten times.”

“I believe that Nectir can close equity gaps in our classrooms,” adds an instructor. “I already have a success story with a student who has a cognitive disability. She has been using Nectir for only two weeks, and it has become a constant companion with her as she reads and reviews content and thoughtfully provides evidence of her understanding in both in-class and online collaborative discussions with her peers.”

Rapid adoption and big plans

Since its 2023 launch, Nectir has expanded to 100+ institutions, including Stanford GSB and Boston University’s Questrom School but surprisingly, community colleges are leading the charge due to their larger class sizes and need for scalable learning solutions. 

Looking ahead, Nectir aims to become the “default AI layer” in every classroom. Over the next five years, Ghai envisions millions of students accessing tailored AI support, from K-12 through graduate studies, and institutions leveraging advanced analytics to intervene early when learners struggle. The company will also build modules for career readiness, alumni upskilling, and lifelong learning.

Lessons in Responsible EdTech

Navigating diverse stakeholders: administrators, IT, faculty, and students, has taught Nectir to design features that deliver value across the board. “In edtech, the decision-maker often isn’t the end user,” Ghai says. “We build for the entire ecosystem, not just the student or just the professor, to ensure sustainable adoption.”

With students set to enter an AI-driven workforce, Nectir also views its platform as a training ground for digital literacy. By interacting with tailored AI assistants, learners develop prompt-crafting skills, critical evaluation of AI output, and a nuanced understanding of responsible tool use, capabilities they’ll need in any field.

As colleges and universities explore the promise of AI, Nectir shows how to do it right: aligning intelligence with curriculum, protecting privacy, and delivering measurable gains in student success. As Ghai sums up, “When AI truly understands what’s being taught, it doesn’t replace educators, it amplifies their impact.”

Teachers and schools can learn more about Nectir at https://www.nectir.io/