Startup Institute - CLOSED

Startup Institute isn't as much of a boot camp as it is an introduction to the tech startup world.

I attended the full-time program in Boston in 2014. I come from a corporate software development background and I wanted to get some sales and customer interaction... Read More training, so I went with the sales track.

I got a whole slew of useful sales skills by attending, but more than that I learned to work with startup folks very quickly. A lot of getting stuff done at a startup requires an understanding of the pacing, people, and culture. Startup Institute taught me about those in spades.

If you're looking to dive into the tech startup world, then SI is a great choice. If you're just looking to learn Ruby or how to create Facebook ads, look elsewhere.

This program put me in front of VCs, founders, startup veterans, and career coaches. It was an excellent way to dive into the entrepreneurial ecosystem in Chicago. The staff are fantastic and the program is packed with activity. I was stretched by taking... Read More on coursework in my area of focus, attacking a live project for a partner Startup company, and attending endless events and sessions for networking, soft-skills training, cultural discussion, and practical advice for breaking into and working at a young company. Ultimately, I came out of the program with a strong network of colleagues, mentors, and friends who have helped me better understand what I'm looking for in my career and are invested in helping me find that right fit.

Pros: The course gave an excellent overview of all aspects of technical marketing in today's world. It covered enough to give a feel of what each aspect of marketing entails. Each individual should then explore on his/her own an area of interests further... Read More after the 8-week course. What is great about the program is that it embeds all students to the whole start up community and all the companies introduced are very receptive to the students. The students learn to navigate within this community and with good initiatives, career opportunities are definitely available.

Cons: Because of the amount of material covered, there was just not enough to cover all the subjects in a thorough manner. You can not really master any particular area without further exploring on your own.

I did Startup Institute Boston in the summer of 2012, and it was exactly what I needed based on my background of having a (non-CS) Engineering Degree and having done some hobby coding with college friends.

I keep in touch with the alumni from my class... Read More who stayed in the Boston area, and actually count two of them among my current housemates. SI gave me 'license to free coffee' basically anyone in the Boston tech community. In fact, the first night of SI is when I met my current professional mentor. Once I knew I was accepted into Startup Institute, I went online and absorbed a few Ruby on Rails tutorials to prepare. This allowed me to focus a lot more on the networking aspect of the program (networking both with the excellent speakers and industry professionals that SI brought in, as well as with my incredibly driven and awesome classmates).

Throughout the program SI brought in an incredible number of amazing speakers from the Startup world, to talk about everything from interviews (technical and otherwise) to how to evaluate equity and salary in an offer letter. That's not to mention all of the track-specific information--I finished the program armed with an effective vocabulary and enough of a lay-of-the-land to chart my own course and steer my own path to success. Along the way I was able to ask for (and get!) coffee / dinner / tea time with CEOs, CTOs, engineers, and more because of the Startup Institute brand...which has only gotten stronger. I made it to the final 'Expo,' a presentation day of sorts where soon-to-be SI alums pitch themselves to a packed room of startup community members, with two job offers and one invitation to start a trial week at a third company--and I was not the only one to receive at least one written offer letter prior to the completion of the program.

I've since gone on to thrive at my current company, earning two promotions in the three short years I've been here. Do I think I could replicate my current success in my field on my own? Probably. Could I have done it in the same amount of time, and come out with such an awesome mentor to boot (as well as the excellent support team of the SI staff and alumni family)? Definitely not!

A bit more about the SI web development track:

The ideal student for the full-time web development program has some experience programming, whether recreationally or professionally. The eight week program is a mix of soft- and hard-topics, and includes a partner project where you will work directly with a hiring partner (startup in Boston) and culminates in an "Expo" event where students pitch themselves and are then set upon by folks from industry to chat about potential future opportunities. Instructors are from industry, and (now!) often include SI alumni (I have been back to teach technical interview sessions three times now), which can be helpful in terms of hearing from them how best to navigate the program. Because there are four tracks (technical marketing, web design, web development, business development and sales), there are opportunities to interact with folks from other disciplines as well as do mini hackathon-style projects. SI Boston is also based out of (and has a good relationship) with TechStars, with whom they share space with near Chinatown in Boston.

Pros:
I loved the SI community. The most important asset that gained was not marketing-specific experience, but an enormous, friendly, intelligent and ambitious network. The SI program primarily enabled me to figure out the seemingly intimidating process... Read More of networking through continuous events, fireside chats, instructors and alumni. The network and the community helped me get a job that I absolutely love within only 6 weeks of being in the program. So, if you want to find your path in life with high-growth companies, be happy, and meet great people - then join Startup Institute!
Cons:
Because the community was such an important aspect, the marketing-specific track was not as rigorous as expected. However, it was generally informative of an over-arching view of startup marketing.

This program is really all about the people you meet both through and because of the program. Fortunately, I was in a great class and was connected with some awesome people. I feel confident giving Startup Institute a strong rating because all of the... Read More instructors and staff that I had as a student and know now after graduating are all helpful, friendly people who are willing to push you to see yourself outside your comfort zone.

I did Startup Institute's web development track. It was a tremendous experience. But, to get the most out of it you definitely have to be self motivated, as it won't give you everything.

The downsides:
- Being two years out now and having worked with people... Read More from other bootcamps, I will say it sounds like the depth of technical education you get may be shallower than other programs. This is fine if you're self motivated and have some technical background to fill in the gaps.
- The program is very short - 8 weeks total, and only 6 of that is really "In Track" aka focused on what you're there to study. The first week is a lot of soft skills (There's a corresponding upside to this, read on!), and the last week is prep for the big "Expo" - working on your personal pitch to an audience of potential employers. There are other (dev specific) programs that last 9 to 12 weeks, so you may cover more.
- It's very much based on social connections and networking - I could imagine it being difficult for strong introverts (however, I will say most people did just fine)
- A lot of the experience depends on the partner project. I had a not so great project & group, others have been very successful.

And because I prefer to end on a positive note,
The upsides:
- Unlike many other bootcamps, this one has many different areas of study. The network this creates is so much richer because of that. When my company was looking for a designer, I was able to refer a friend from the design track.
- Also, you get to learn a little bit about the other tracks. I now at least understand what content marketing is and why it's important! I doubt I would have learned that at a dev-only bootcamp
- They are tremendous at getting you connected. If there is someone in a startup you'd like to meet, they can probably help find you a connection (I got a connection to a startup in a totally different city they weren't even in yet!)
- The staff that works there is great. They are wonderful, helpful people.
- They were (and I think still are) cheaper than most of the competitors
- Most importantly, it got me where I want to be. I am now making 50% more than before I started the program, and working in a software engineering role. So, it worked.

Summary: Want rock solid, in depth dev skills? You may be better elsewhere. Want an awesome network and a foot in the door anywhere? Startup Institute is perfect.

After working for several years in traditional marketing, I decided to it was time for a change. While searching for new opportunities in a different city, I stumbled upon a LinkedIn posting for Startup Institute; immediately after reading a few sentences... Read More on their landing page, I was intrigued and decided to apply.

I wasn't sure what to expect, but I knew that my decision to attend SI just felt right. The experience was incredible; I won't bore you with all the details, but I met some truly amazing people, learned a great deal about startup culture, technical marketing, and getting out of my comfort zone.

I'm still learning new skills today; SI provided me with a solid foundation to prepare me as a technical marketer. I've also kept in contact with a number of Alum and believe that the strong network is another reason to attend SI. Now it's your turn to go draw the owl.

P.S. Just in case you're curious. I received and accepted a job offer the day of our Student Expose.

PROS: Learn by doing: the Intensive curriculum and exhilarating speed of the semester prepares students to take-off for a fast-pace career with a startup and demonstrates why startups outpace the corporate competition! Courses and activities require students... Read More to actively participate in daily startup life - prepare detailed daily assignments on schedule while maintaining a pressing calendar outside with industry events, constant networking and researching companies for positions and also actively teaches SI Students how to utilize those contacts to achieve goals. Students Interact directly with SI Sponsor Company Executives while learning a curriculum designed by Industry leaders with guidance of sponsor SIB Companies who are looking to hire that semester. Students learn invaluable lessons and gain insights from interacting directly with industry leaders and local Startup Executives who speak and teach the courses and seminars.

NEGATIVES: It goes by too quickly!!