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Startup Institute - CLOSED

Boston

About Startup Institute

Location: Boston

Please note: This school is closed and is no longer accepting students. The SwitchUp team no longer monitors this page for updates, but historical information is available for reference.

Courses at Startup Institute help students build the technical skills and network that will launch them into the growing tech community.

Startup's 12-week part-time "nights & weekends" courses feature a number of career-changing benefits including access... Read More

Courses

Coding with Ruby on Rails (Nights & Weekends)

Cost: $9,500
Duration: 12 weeks
Locations: Boston
In-person Only
Course Description:

The web development track will give you advanced knowledge of Rails, training on how innovative companies are using it, time to hack, and mentorship from experienced developers.

The US Bureau of Labor Statistics says web development job opportunities will grow 27% by 2024. For the tech industry, startups, and established companies that want to innovate, a skilled developer is vital.

Our web development track focuses on Ruby on Rails. RoR enables developers to get products to market quickly compared to other languages. For companies, this means they can have an edge; for our students, this means that their skills are in-demand and highly employable. Using Rails as a vehicle, the web development coursework encourages logic and problem-solving skills that will enable you to overcome challenges no matter what language you’re working with.

The program begins with the fundamentals of model-view-controller architecture. Lesson delivery includes a series of Rails labs and opportunities to work on real project deliverables both individually and collaboratively. Weekly workshops will give you exposure to topics such as test-driven development, git, AJAX, and API’s. Throughout your eight weeks, you’ll engineer deliverables that prove your abilities as an effective developer and teammate.

Key Skills and Capabilities:

Setting up a dev environment: brew, Xcode, RVM, git
MVC basics: intro to model-view-controller architecture
Building and testing a Rails application
Source control management and cloud-based deployment
Employing collaborative approaches to overcome coding challenges

Subjects:
Git, jQuery, AJAX, MVC, Ruby on Rails, JavaScript, Spring MVC

Digital Marketing (Nights & Weekends)

Cost: $9,500
Duration: 12 weeks
Locations: Boston
In-person Only
Course Description:

Our digital marketing track will train you to become a comprehensive digital marketer: performance and content marketing, plus a focus on generating actionable insights from data analytics.

Marketing is about anticipating a customer’s needs and then creating the opportunity for a sale to occur. Today’s digital marketers are tasked with designing campaigns that speak to multiple audience segments, inspiring them into action, and measuring the results to make data-fueled business decisions.

Marketers in the innovation industry are scrappy, creative, and agile—able to drive big growth on a small budget and with limited resources. Our digital marketing track will train you to be a self-sufficient marketer, whose aim is to help a company increase their customer base by a factor of 10. Lesson delivery focuses on relevant industry tools like Google Analytics, AdWords, and Mailchimp. You’ll get hands-on experience with SQL queries and implement SEO best practices on your own landing page and customized blog. To deliver on these goals, you’ll learn content strategies to organically improve your rankings.

Key Skills and Capabilities

Email marketing and landing page optimization
Best practices for inbound and outbound marketing plans
Working with analytics platforms and SQL
Placing, testing, and optimizing paid advertising
Improving website visibility through content development and targeted keyword usage

Subjects:
SEO, SQL, Digital Marketing, Wordpress

Introduction to Coding (Ruby on Rails)

Cost: $859
Duration: 8 weeks
Locations: Boston
In-person Only
Course Description:

This class will teach you the programming language used by developers to build websites, games, and applications.

Learn how to solve real-world problems with code and what it takes to create interactive web applications. You’ll complete the class with a solid understanding of the language and a series of web applications to add to your portfolio.

You’ll also be introduced to industry tools such as Github, Unix, and Sublime. This class is great for coding novices who want to learn the fundamentals of web development.

Subjects:
Git, Ruby on Rails

Introduction to Digital Marketing

Cost: $859
Duration: 8 weeks
Locations: Boston
In-person Only
Course Description:

Marketing for the digital age is less about billboards and more about keeping your audience engaged between email and Facebook, and everywhere in between. This class will teach you how to create an effective marketing plan and put it into action using key industry tools.

Learn how to drive results using Google Analytics, content strategy, SEO, A/B testing, and email marketing. You’ll complete the class with a marketing campaign and a solid understanding of how to acquire and engage customers.

This class is great for aspiring marketers, marketers who want to learn new digital skills, or founders and small business owners who want to build their own marketing plans.

Subjects:
HTML, SEO, SQL, Digital Marketing

Introduction to JavaScript

Cost: $859
Duration: 8 weeks
Locations: Boston
In-person Only
Course Description:

This class will teach you the programming language that allows users to interact directly with a website or application.

Gain a solid understanding of programming techniques, JavaScript fundamentals, and how to use JavaScript and jQuery to make interactive websites. You’ll complete the course with a team project to add to your portfolio.

This class is perfect for people who have dabbled in HTML and CSS, back-end developers who want to learn front-end skills, entrepreneurs who want to manage a development process, and the curious looking to learn how to code for the first time.

Subjects:
JavaScript

Introduction to Web Design (UX/UI)

Cost: $859
Duration: 8 weeks
Locations: Boston
In-person Only
Course Description:

This class will teach you the fundamentals of HTML5, CSS3, and the principles of responsive design.

Gain front-end coding skills and build a web experience for your portfolio that will function seamlessly across devices.

This class is perfect for aspiring UX/UI designers, graphic designers who want to learn to code, back-end developers who want to build a front-end skill set, web designers who are new to responsive design, and entrepreneurs who want to build their own website.

Subjects:
CSS, Illustrator, Mobile, Photoshop, Bootstrap, Responsive Design, Sketch

Sales & Business Development (Nights & Weekends)

Cost: $9,500
Duration: 12 weeks
Locations: Boston
In-person Only
Course Description:

The sales and account management track will prepare you to masterfully nurture a sales funnel, and to convert prospects into loyal customers.

Selling for high-growth requires resourcefulness. Salespeople at rapidly growing companies face very different challenges than their corporate counterparts. You may have to build your company’s sales process from scratch, or sell a product that is still in development. You may have to validate a market or industry on your own with few resources or guidance from leadership. Your role will demand an integrated approach, often working alongside marketing teammates to ensure a cohesive customer journey.

Our sales and account management track will train you to excel in the most critical revenue-driving role. From prospecting and lead generation to account management, you will learn that sales is both an art and a science.

The curriculum focuses on developing the essential skills for selling in the innovation sector, and provides tools and processes for managing the sales cycle. Lesson delivery emphasizes a practical and interactive approach, as salespeople from local companies share their expertise and lessons from their own experience. Instructional presentations are supported by hands-on challenges that invite students to engage with the tools, strategies, and problem-solving techniques that make it possible for salespeople to exceed their quotas.

Key Skills and Capabilities:

Customer engagement throughout the sales cycle
Objection handling and closing techniques
Inbound and outbound sales strategies and best practices
Managing long-term client relationships
Defining expectations and relationship building with your sales manager and team

Subjects:
Business, Entrepreneurship, Sales

Web Design + UX/UI (Nights & Weekends)

Cost: $9,500
Duration: 12 weeks
Locations: Boston
In-person Only
Course Description:

Our web design track will train you in front-end development and interface design with an emphasis on user-centered principles. You’ll juggle code and design as you learn how the most innovative companies create great digital products.

As a web designer you will be tasked with taking a product and turning it into an experience. You’ll need to balance dynamic visuals and interactivity with optimal performance.

Built on the product development life cycle, the curriculum simulates real-life challenges to prepare you to successfully take a project from concept to launch. Lesson delivery focuses on teaching relevant industry languages such as HTML, CSS, JavaScript, and jQuery. You’ll also get hands-on experience with local designers to learn about wireframing, low-fidelity mockups, and rapid prototyping to help you work quickly and take your designs to the next level.

KEY SKILLS AND CAPABILITIES

HTML, CSS, CSS3, JavaScript, and jQuery
Best practices and techniques for responsive design
Conducting user research and testing
Wireframing, low-fidelity mockups, and rapid prototyping
Effective portfolio presentation
Requirement: Students must bring a computer with a Unix environment (i.e. Mac OSX or Linux).

Subjects:
Design Principles, Responsive Design, JavaScript, UX

Startup Institute Reviews

Average Ratings (All Programs)

Startup Institute logo

4.7/5 (139 reviews)

Not happy
Graduated: 2013

2/3/2016

Overall

Curriculum

Job Support

"Shockingly Poorly Executed"

I attended the very first cohort that Startup Institute offered in NYC. It was sort of a nightmare. The space was some sort of temp space that they had loaned from Kaplan, and everything was totally half baked. They didn't really teach us anything, and... Read More

Jawad
Graduated: 2015

9/8/2015

Overall

Curriculum

Job Support

"Web Dev Startup inst"

Pros: you don't even know what you are getting into. This program will get you where you need to go. All you have to do is put a lot of hard work. Work smart and try and gain as much as you can.

Con: would have suggested a deep dive into app making in... Read More

All in all great program, there is always reason to be skeptical, so was I but trust your guts.

These people are the best.

Anonymous
Graduated: 2014

9/5/2015

Overall

Curriculum

Job Support

"Definitely worth it, still room for improvement"

Pros: Changes your life

Cons: There's only so much you can teach in 8 weeks.

Justin
Graduated: 2013

9/4/2015

Overall

Curriculum

Job Support

"Great experience in Boston"

I went through the marketing track in Boston and had an amazing experience. I learned a lot of valuable skills but even more importantly, created an incredible network that helped launch my career.

Emily M.
Graduated: 2013

9/3/2015

Overall

Curriculum

Job Support

"Changed my life"

I joined the Product & Design (now Web Design) track at Startup Institute after having worked in an agency environment that I hated, and felt out of touch. The program did everything I hoped it would do for me and more – expanded my network (through which... Read More

Carlos
Graduated: 2015

9/3/2015

Overall

Curriculum

Job Support

"Boost your network, acquire the right mindset, and expose yourself to increase your chances of success in the local startup ecosystem"

Earlier this year I was felling like many professionals feel at some point in their career: I spent plenty of time and enormous effort amount in building a career towards a direction that did not feel natural to me. Yes, I was working in a very interesting... Read More

The program is based on three main pillars: Skills, Network, and Mindset.
While the "skills" part is structured to provide you only with a "surface foundation", I found that the most valuable parts for me were both the network and the mindset.
Throughout the program, you will have the chance to interact and connect with plenty of startup professionals, CEOs, founders, CTOs, advisors and other people in the local ecosystem. Such an exposure provides indeed the best platform for you to "broadcast" and brand yourself as the professional you would like to become, creating plenty of synergies for future opportunities.

I highly encourage you to apply to the programme!
Just make sure you will have the proactivity, time, grit and self-motivation to go deeper on the skills part by yourself with the foundation learnt in in-track classes.

Wilton
Graduated: 2014

9/2/2015

Overall

Curriculum

Job Support

"I loved SI so much I came back to teach."

I've taken classes to learn new skills online (Skill Share, TreeHouse, Coursera, etc.) and I've been a student and a teacher at General Assembly, but Startup Institute definitely stands out among these institutions for a couple reasons.

- Holistic learning.... Read More

I love the community so much that I came back to be a mentor for the technical marketing track.

I couldn't recommend SI more if you're going through a career transition or you're looking to shake things up.

Anonymous
Graduated: 2014

9/2/2015

Overall

Curriculum

Job Support

"I got everything I wanted out of Startup Institute"

Startup Institute gave me an amazing reason to move to NYC, further develop my marketing skills, and build an enormous network overnight. I loved my time there and cherish the friends and connections I made through the program.

NB
Graduated: 2015

9/2/2015

Overall

Curriculum

Job Support

"I grew professionally and personally and made life long connections at the Startup Institute"

I left the finance world and went to the Startup Institute to help me acquire the skills to pivot to a more fulfilling career. While I did learn a lot of hard skills in marketing, I gained so, so, much more. I met a group of eclectic people, each of which... Read More

The Startup staff were/are great mentors and continue to support me as I make the transition to a new role. They nurture the core values of the startup community and are always there to help. The instructors at SI work at companies we all want to join in roles that we hope to one day have. This gave us real exposure to the startup scene and helped us get a feel for what these jobs would actually be like. While 8 weeks is not long enough to really develop skills in marketing, it was enough time to expose me to all the different facets of marketing, helping me decide where I really wanted to develop my skills and pursue a job.

The Startup Institute was an invaluable experience that was the start of my journey to a more fulfilling career. I highly recommend the program to anyone who is looking to change careers and enter the tech community.

SMP
Graduated: 2014

9/2/2015

Overall

Curriculum

Job Support

"The best decision I made to discoer what truely mattered to me in finding a dream job."

The ONLY con is that you are a student of the program for only 8 weeks. But the lessons you learn and the people you meet will carry with you when you finish your final day at Startup Institute.

I came into the program with an analytical background and... Read More

Through fire side chats with local CEOs, lesson with members of the tech community, and guided group discussions surrounding what it means to be a valuable contributor to a company, SI gives you the tools to, in the end, make your own decision on what job best suits you. Oh, and not to mention, access to TONS of employment opportunities through their vast network of alumni, guest speakers, and instructors.

On top of this, in the digital marketing track, I gained an excellent core education off a variety of marketing topics that I could've faced in my potential future job. Many things I learned became the groundwork of the knowledge I currently use at my job. (small marketing agency).

If you've already thought about applying for SI, you've already made the first step.

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