The Story Behind DormWay
What started as a joke about 1,600 LCD screens became the ultimate college app
Why We Built This
College is chaotic enough. Stop juggling 15 different apps to see your assignments. No more missed deadlines because they're buried in Canvas. No more missing campus events.
We built DormWay to fix that.
The Problem We're Solving
College students are drowning in apps. Canvas for assignments. Gmail for professor emails. Google Calendar for class schedules. Notion for notes. Reminders for to-dos. Apple Health for sleep tracking.
You're not disorganized—the system is broken. You shouldn't need to manually check five different places to know what's due tomorrow.
We believe college should be about learning, not juggling a dozen apps just to stay on top of deadlines.
How 1,600 LCD Screens Became DormWay
Picture this: A college student buys 1,600 LCD screens on impulse and asks his Twitch chat what to do with them.
That college student was Riley Crimmins, a senior at the University of Michigan (Class of 2026) who'd built a 100K+ following streaming on Twitch while juggling a full course load. One of his viewers, Ethan Kaplan — a VC researching games and a 30-year tech veteran who'd built digital products for My Chemical Romance, R.E.M., Fender, and Warner Music—threw out a joke: "Smart mirrors for dorm rooms?"
The idea stuck. But the more they talked, the more they realized: students don't need another gadget. They need software that actually understands college life.
That joke became DormWay—a platform for 20 million students across 6,200+ colleges.
Meet the Founders
Riley Crimmins
CEO & Co-Founder
Riley is a senior at the University of Michigan (Class of 2026) who knows what it's like to juggle a packed schedule. With 100K+ followers across Twitch, YouTube, and social media, he's built an audience while managing coursework, deadlines, and the chaos of college life.
He taught himself to code by building DormWay—going from zero programming experience to shipping features used by thousands of students. Riley brings the student perspective to every product decision, because he's living it.
I built this because I was tired of checking five different apps just to know what's due tomorrow.
— Riley Crimmins
Ethan Kaplan
CTO & Co-Founder
Ethan has spent 30 years building consumer technology at scale. Currently Chief Digital Officer at Universal Audio, he's previously led digital strategy at Fender, Live Nation, and Warner Music Group.
At 16, he started one of the first band fansites on the internet for R.E.M.—before social media existed. He's been building digital communities and products ever since, from music streaming platforms to e-commerce systems used by millions.
DormWay is what I wish existed when I was in college—one place for everything, no manual work required.
— Ethan Kaplan
What We Stand For
Students First
Every feature is designed by students, for students. We don't build what sounds cool—we build what actually helps you stay organized.
Privacy Matters
Your academic data is yours. We encrypt everything, never sell your information, and give you full control over what gets synced.
Transparent & Honest
No dark patterns, no hidden fees, no BS. We're upfront about what we're building, what we charge, and how we operate.
Our mission: Make college less stressful by eliminating the manual work of staying organized. Students should spend time learning, not wrestling with 15 different apps.
Optimized for Deep Focus
The web experience is designed for when you need to concentrate—studying, in class, working in groups. Upload syllabi, connect Canvas, and organize your semester from any browser.
Mobile Apps (Beta):
- Mobile app for on-the-go notifications and quick updates
- iPad app for note-taking and hybrid workflows
- Desktop apps (Mac & Windows) for full-screen productivity
Just the Beginning
This is just the start. Here's what's next:
Deeper Integrations
Connect every LMS (Canvas, Blackboard, etc.), Gmail/Outlook, registration systems, dining, housing, and financial aid.
Desktop Apps
Mac and Windows apps for bigger screens. File sync and collaboration. Works seamlessly across all devices.
Enhanced Intelligence
More data sources. Smarter predictions. Study recommendations based on your learning patterns. Career guidance for your major.
Campus Ecosystem
Campus transportation, library bookings, dining menus, athletic tickets. Everything your campus offers.
We're building the ultimate college app—one feature at a time.
Privacy First
Your data stays yours. We don't sell information to third parties. We use encryption for all academic data. You control what syncs and what doesn't.
Coverage
Available at over 6,200 U.S. institutions of higher education—from major universities to community colleges to trade schools. 20 million students. 2,200 cities. One platform.
Join the Movement
We're building the future of college organization. Whether you want to work with us, represent us on campus, or just stay in the loop—we'd love to hear from you.
DormWay Labs
Join our rolling team of beta testers. Help shape DormWay by testing new features, providing feedback, and being the first to access experimental tools.
Learn MoreCampus Ambassadors
Bring DormWay to your campus. Help students discover the platform, gather feedback, and build community. Rewards and perks included.
Apply NowQuestions? Ideas? Just want to chat?contact@dormway.app