CODING MADE EASY: The Codecademy site. Codecademy, which offers free
courses to anyone who is interested in learning web coding, has
managed to sign up hundreds of thousands of users since launching in
August. CHICAGO: Not too long ago, web coding was the rarified realm
of computer geeks, but a new crop of entrepreneurs is making this
valuable computer skill available to just about anyone with an
inclination to learn.
In New York, a nascent startup called Codecademy, the brainchild of
two former Columbia University students, has managed to sign up
hundreds of thousands of users since launching in August. Celebrity
participants such as New York Mayor Mike Bloomberg have helped create
buzz.
"Coding is the new literacy," said co-founder Zach Sims.
"As the world moves toward becoming increasingly complicated, it's
important to know what you're doing."
Codecademy's self-guided courses, with names like "Hello New York,"
and "FizzBuzz," are free. An introductory segment to JavaScript, a
language often used to build websites, took about five minutes and was
admittedly addictive.
Sims, who at 21 has already worked for prominent startups including
the former filesharing service Drop.io and group messaging site
groupme -now part of Skype - took a leave of absence from Columbia so
that he and partner Ryan Bubinski could dedicate their time fully to
the effort. The project was born in part from Sims' frustration when
learning to code.
"I was reading books and taking classes and watching video," he
recalled. "I was always dissatisfied.
Codecademy had more than 500,000 users through early November, the
last time figures were disclosed. Its latest initiative, dubbed Code
Year, challenges would-be users to make coding a New Year's
resolution; the campaign pulled in close to 300,000 adherents in just
eight days time, Sims said.
In October, Codecademy announced US$2.5mil (RM7.5mil) in startup
funding from a group of high-profile investors. Among them was Union
Square Ventures, a VC firm that has backed powerhouses such as Twitter
and Zynga.
"On a really fundamental level their vision is teaching the world how
to program for free," said Andy Weissman, a Union Square partner.
"That's a really big vision; it's a vision that's really right for the
time that we're in now. It's an important skill for people to learn."
Sims declined to provide specifics on the business model, but said
once the site builds scale, it should be able to attract a range of
business partners. Weissman said the creation of a large network of
engaged users could generate interest among corporate recruiters and
as well as those looking to find jobs.
To be sure, skilled IT professional are hard to find. According to a
May 2011 survey from ManpowerGroup, the employment services agency, IT
staff and engineers were among the top ten most difficult US jobs to
fill.
Even those who don't plan on becoming professional coders are finding
the skills beneficial, whether they run their own businesses, work in
large companies or use them in everyday life.
One is David Whittemore, the co-founder of Clothes Horse, an emerging
startup that offers advise about clothing fit and sizing to consumers
who purchase apparel online. He has been taking Codecademy courses,
but has no plans to become a web engineer.
"I actually think almost everybody should learn to code," said
Whittemore, adding that his new knowledge has eased the burden on his
company's chief technology officer.
"The more I can get involved and help him out, the better it is for
our business - being able to put a prototype together for him, get
access on the data on how a product is performing so I don't have to
ask him," he said.
"How much will it save us? Basically hiring a consultant or contractor
or having to hire another team member."
Therein lies the rub. At a time when more and more new ventures are
deploying so-called "lean" startup practices, the more skills and
services they can perform in house will help to keep their costs down.
Other entrepreneurs have recognised this need. In Chicago, Mike McGee
and Neal Sales-Griffin, a team of recently minted Northwestern
University graduates, are tapping demand for coding skills with a
different kind of training model under a similar name: Code Academy.
Theirs charges students US$6,000 (RM18,000) a pop for a 10-week course
at an actual school.
The two began working on the idea in April, eventually quitting their
jobs and jumping in headlong.
Demand for initial classes beginning in October quickly outstripped
supply. There were 88 applicants for just 12 spots, all willing to
plunk down tuition before Code Academy had even secured actual office
space.
So the founders upped class size to 35, and lucked out leasing space
inside of the headquarters of Groupon, the online couponing site.
"We didn't have to take in any investment," said McGee, who at 23 is
younger than many of his students. "We went from having no money to
being profitable by the first week of September."
The programme recently began its second series in the city's John
Hancock building with 57 students, including some who are taking
instruction in website design.
"It's just exploding," said McGee, whose business is already
profitable. "We have people that are 21 and people that are 52 - from
all over the world. It's just a big mixing pot." - Reuters
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