After the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, the college transition process became even harder for first-generation and/or low-income students and international students alike. Without the ability to tour universities and meet current students, it became difficult to decide which university was the right fit.

Ryan Afreen and Collin Marlin, two undergraduate students at the University of Pennsylvania, developed the idea to create The Virtual Vine: a network of ambassadors from various universities around the world, dedicated to providing first-hand knowledge of college life and available resources to students who may not have the appropriate avenues to acquire it.