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The world of tech education just got a whole lot richer. Global technology educator General Assembly announced it raised $35 million in Series C funding last week, bringing its total funding to $50 million. The New York-based company has a strong LA presence; in the year since they opened a campus in Santa Monica, over 10,000 people have already attended an LA course.
The company is using the $35 million in funding to enhance its alumni program, grow its geographical presence (they are already in nine markets) and continually update the curriculum, said West Coast director Sarah Tilton.
Tilton said the technology scene in LA is still nascent, similar to New York’s a few years back. Still, "lots of people are dying to get in tech," Tilton said. One-third of General Assembly's students are transplants, relocating to LA for the educational and job opportunities provided by the tech industry. By the end of the month, the LA branch will have graduated 125 web developers and 650 students will have passed through one of their long-form courses. Beyond the intensive, stop-everything-else tech courses, General Assembly offers one-off courses for the more casual learner, which Tilton said makes it friendly for those who are just getting started.
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Students come from various industries. Some are already working for a technology company, but not in a tech role. Others are looking for a complete career switch, while a third category is made up of budding entrepreneurs who need technical skills to create their vision.
General Assembly tries to distinguish itself by the service it provides after graduation. It’s a place Tilton said alumni want to come back to to continue developing their professional skills. The company tracks alumni and is interested in more than just employment rates, said Tilton, which they see as a distinguishing feature from competitors. According to her, their LA grads are doing well: 100 percent of graduates from intensive courses were employed three months after the course ended. The company’s global average wavers between 94 and 96 percent. They also offer an apprenticeship program, which allows graduates to spend four days per week working at a company and then come back to campus on Fridays to ask questions they might not feel comfortable asking their boss and generally beef up on any technical skills.
With demand from students and employers alike, the company has quadrupled its hiring partner network over the past year.
Their LA courses have seen "really rapid growth, very based on local demand," said Tilton. Demand comes from both those with a technology background and complete newbies. The Santa Monica campus has three classrooms and all are booked from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m daily. Students are even asking for more locations around the LA region to help shorten the commute.
Another strength of the program is the curriculum; it remains constant whether a student takes a course in LA, New York or London. Their New York team is constantly refining the program and the company hires educators with practical experience. Thirteen of the company’s 260-person staff is in LA, but that doesn’t include faculty. The company is hiring, with three positions open in LA right now.
