Coding Dojo MIT Startup Exchange
- 1. Coding Dojo 1 Transforming Lives Through Programming Literacy Richard Wang, CEO MIT MBA Student Education Technology & Future of Practice Leader
- 2. Coding Dojo 2 Many people feel they have been, or will soon be, left behind by the growing importance of technology in our economy. Furthermore, job opportunities are increasingly being consolidated into coastal “tech superstar” cities like New York, Boston, Seattle, and the Bay Area, which leaves fewer meaningful jobs elsewhere. Due to the pace of technological change and rising costs of traditional education, it has become a less feasible and less effective option to gain digital skills—especially for career changers. Just as trade programs filled the ranks of qualified electricians, carpenters, and technicians, developers don’t need a four- year degree to make an impact. A viable path to better financial opportunities is unlocked through computer science knowledge. Meanwhile, access to digital education and training programs is limited, especially in smaller cities and in minority or low- income communities. A strategic effort is needed to reskill the workforce to proactively mitigate job losses, talent shortages, and ensure broader participation in the digital economy. Problem
- 3. Coding Dojo 3 Coding Dojo is an economic development engine that can transform individuals from a low paying, low-skill jobs to a high paying, high-skill careers in 14 weeks. The investment in this transformation pays dividends as 94 percent of Coding Dojo alumni get a job within six months of graduating, with an average annual salary of about $76,000 a year. Coding Dojo offers a 14-week coding bootcamp program that is designed to train anyone to become a self- sufficient computer developer, regardless of their technical background. By providing a quick an effective option to retrain/upskill workers, Coding Dojo is addressing the growing skills gap and empowering individuals to pursue meaningful careers in the digital economy. Coding Dojo has also made it a mission to support underserved communities, as well as increase diversity and decrease the gender gap in the tech industry. We offer multiple tuition scholarships to promote diversity and support women, veterans, and career changers. To date, Coding Dojo has trained more than 4,500 individuals from all walks of life and has awarded more than $3,500,000 in scholarships. Solution
- 4. Coding Dojo 4 Student Success Stories Yamin Hakizimana Before No prior computer typing experience Burundi Refugee moved to US in 2014 Blue collar work background After Software Developer @ VYNYL - Digital Agency Shannon Lance Before No prior coding experience Mother of 4 during program Former Teacher After Service Manager Development @ SAP Concur Mila Wilkinson Before No coding experience Media production background After Media Producer @ Expedia
- 5. Coding Dojo 5 ● Connections with corporate partners who are interested in establishing reskilling/upskilling programs for their employees. ● Connections with non-profits, NGOs, and other organizations who can help fund charitable efforts such as scholarship funds for refugees, increased scholarships for women or people of color in tech, and other programs aimed at supporting underserved communities. ● Connections with traditional education representatives to white-label our curriculum and content to build on-campus bootcamp programs. Partnership Asks