There’s learning how to code, and there’s learning how to get a coding job. The former is a prerequisite, but not a guarantor, of the latter.
To bridge the two services, Bloc, an online coding school, has acquired DevBridge, a stealthy career services startup founded in 2015. It has worked with five coding bootcamps to help graduating students land jobs at Y Combinator startups.
With this deal, DevBridge will now work exclusively with Bloc and could give the San Francisco-based startup a leg up in the hyper-competitive market of coding bootcamps. Course Report, which regularly surveys this industry, counts more than 250 online and in-person providers.
DevBridge’s founder and CEO, Courtland Alves, will join Bloc as Director of Student Outcomes. He’ll be leading a team to help Bloc graduates identify what job positions are best suited for them and prepare them for the interview process. “Being able to provide this type of specific coaching is distinct from teaching them a specific language,” says Clint Schmidt, Bloc’s Chief Operating Officer.
Contrary to what Hollywood films may depict, coders rarely work alone. During interviews, Schmidt says, “it’s less important whether you can solve the problem with code, and more important that you can articulate your thought process to hiring managers.” The process often involves whiteboards and a lot of talking through the problem-solving process.
Founded in 2011, Bloc offers 12- and 24-week courses on web development and UX design, and pairs every student with a mentor who, on average, boast nine years of professional experience. More than 2,500 students have enrolled so far; completion rates range between 75 and 80 percent, according to Schmidt.
The acquisition follows a bold program launched by Bloc in November 2015: a 48-week “Software Engineering Track” program that offers a money-back guarantee if the student does not find a job with a starting annual salary of $60,000 within 120 days of graduation. (Here’s the fine print.) The program costs $24,000. He declined to disclose how many students have signed up, only offering that this course is “by far our most popular.”
Financial details of the deal were not disclosed. The acquisition bumps Bloc’s team to 90 employees.
