Code the Future: The Next 5 Years of Coder Foundry
Five years ago I created Coder Foundry as a way to solve a problem that I saw in my software companies and across the tech industry.
I needed developers who would be ready on day one to contribute to my company. I didn't care if you had a Computer Science degree. I just needed smart people who could do the work.
Other employers agreed. Since we started teaching students at Coder Foundry companies such as Microsoft, Bank of America, and Cisco have hired multiple graduates. And even better, smaller companies have been able to hire local students instead of outsourcing or trying to relocate out-of-state candidates.
Coder Foundry is closing the technical skills gap in North Carolina.
When we first opened our doors I focused the school 100% on student outcomes. A student's Coder Foundry experience doesn't end until they have their first job.
But what surprised me is this - student outcomes go beyond just a career. One Coder Foundry student landED a great job, then senT his wife to our school, and now she's back working developer.
Another student was a public school teacher. Now he works from home with and spends more time with his young family. He told his fellow teacher about us, and now she's a working developer.
We've even had a Computer Engineering graduate come to our school to get practical experience, then convince five of his classmates and friends to attend too. Of course, they are all working as software developers.
Coder Foundry graduates are not just changing their own lives. They are changing their families and their communities for the better.
Coding is the economic mobilizer of our time. And I see students from all walks of life prove that every day.
With that said, I have a new vision for the next five years at Coder Foundry. We now have a $100 million a year goal.
But that's not a $100 million goal for our school. No, we're doubling down on student outcomes. Our goal is for students to collectively earn $100 million a year.
And we're already well on our well. Many of our early students are on their second and third positions and earning the salary increases to match.
Even so, to get to our ambitious goal we'll need to do more. So today I am announcing Coder Foundry's "Code the Future" campaign.
Code the future is our promise to help the next generation of software developers shape the direction of their lives and communities by learning how to code.
We are asking leaders in tech, education, and public policy to join us. Go to coderfoundry.com/codethefuture to see how your organization can get involved.
By working together we can the next Mark Zuckerberg build Facebook, or the next retail worker earn enough to take care of her family.
Let's help them code the future.