Hack Reactor becomes even better with acquisition by Galvanize

For the last five years, Hack Reactor has created the highest-quality coding bootcamp programs, with industry-leading outcomes in software engineering, an exceptional student experience, a strong alumni footprint, and consistent employer recognition.

We’re thrilled to bring things to the next level by joining the Galvanize community and its commitment to creating an ecosystem for technology learners, entrepreneurs, startups, and established companies.

As a prospective Hack Reactor student, you are not only on a path to Hack Reactor’s exceptional Software Engineering curriculum and program, you’re also on a path to even more opportunity. For starters, you’ll be part of an alumni community that’s now almost doubled in size and will join a larger and more diverse network of employers.

Why did Hack Reactor and Galvanize decide to join forces?

Hack Reactor created one of the highest-quality coding-bootcamp programs in the United States, with industry-leading outcomes, an exceptional student experience, a strong alumni footprint, and renowned employer recognition.

We at Hack Reactor have built an incredible learning community with little outside funding. When we approached finding a partner who is as passionate about quality education as we are, we were inspired by what we found in Galvanize.

Being self-funded empowered us to stay true to our mission, but it created challenges in making investments in things such as increasing our community profile, offering new programs, and developing continuing education.

In pursuit of growth, we embarked on a journey to gain investment capital and looked for a partner who believed in what we were doing and valued Hack Reactor for what it is. This process took about a year, and we spoke with nearly 100 potential partners. We think of Hack Reactor as our baby, and we weren’t going to share it with anyone who’d harm it.

Galvanize was a perfect fit. The community they’ve built cares about education as much as we do and have strived to create a coding bootcamp like no other. It is both highly accessible and transformative — something we consider to be an incredible endeavour. Galvanize values, respects, and believes in Hack Reactor for what it is and has the resources to grow it with us. We’re really excited that Hack Reactor programs will reach new heights with Galvanize, benefitting all members of our communities.

How will Galvanize improve the experience for Hack Reactor students?

Galvanize believes that amazing things can happen when you bring world-class education, ambitious students, entrepreneurs, startups, and industry leaders under one roof.

The Galvanize community knows Hack Reactor is a leading coding school and that having us at Galvanize will be a win-win for everyone. It has made Hack Reactor even better for our students and, subsequently, the Galvanize ecosystem is even more appealing for their members.

Is Hack Reactor changing?

Hack Reactor will continue to operate software-engineering immersive and prep courses, as it did before.

Hack Reactor’s always been about being the best coding school. We bring together bright, motivated students and we put them through a rigorous program that immerses them in the same situation as junior engineers. We’re a program where great work = great results. This has been Hack Reactor from day one and it will be Hack Reactor @ Galvanize moving forward.

Who will be leading Hack Reactor now?

Every leader supporting the educational programs of Hack Reactor will continue to lead the school. This includes all campus leads and the experts leading instruction, curriculum, and outcomes. In fact, nearly all of the educational staff, from front-line to senior management, will remain in their current roles.

Harsh Patel has led Hack Reactor programs for the last two years. Because of his innovative approach and excellent performance, Harsh will now manage all of Galvanize’s education efforts as Chief Product Officer.

Will the admissions process and standards change?

Our admissions standards will remain the same. We want students to show us they are driven, motivated, and able to learn the basics so they can get the most out of our immersive programs.

What’s going to happen to the curriculum and instruction?

We will continue to have the exceptional curriculum and instruction that Hack Reactor is known for. Our curriculum has been built by former engineering and industry leaders and is relevant and pedagogically very strong. It has been tested by over 4,000 students and has received extraordinary reviews and outcomes — something we are very proud of.

What’s the plan for Hack Reactor’s various social impact programs?

Social impact is a big part of our DNA, and that will continue at Galvanize. Over the years, we have licensed our curriculum and supported the launch of schools focused on students-in-need. This has included coding bootcamps focused on retraining Syrian refugees, returnees from the U.S. to Mexico and at-risk youth. We’ve worked with community organizations to help their members learn the basics of code and launched initiatives supporting underrepresented groups in tech (such as our Facebook Scholarships and our Telegraph Track in San Francisco).

Hack Reactor has always been mission-focused, as is Galvanize, and our leaders are just as committed to our mission as they were before. In fact, one of the key reasons we came together with Galvanize is that we have shared values and mission.

Shawn Drost, one of our co-founders, has been a driving force for this in the past. We’re excited to share that he is playing an even bigger role within Hack Reactor + Galvanize. Shawn will continue to oversee these initiatives in addition to stepping into an advisory role within the Galvanize Foundation.

What will all this mean for Hack Reactor’s brand?

Over the last five years, the Hack Reactor brand has become one of the strongest and most reputable names in the coding education space. To continue this, our programs will remain the same in title and brand.

Over time, as we continue to graduate exceptional engineers and successfully deliver enterprise training, our reputation will grow exponentially. Hack Reactor, the school and the brand, has an amazing future with Galvanize.

As a student, is my experience going to get better or worse?

Hack Reactor + Galvanize is a huge win for students.

We’ve already talked about how Hack Reactor as a school (the mission, the priorities, the academic leadership, the curriculum, the instruction, the job search support and the student outcomes) are going to continue to be the same high quality programs as before. But, we aren’t just staying the same; we’re joining Galvanize because this opportunity provides room for growth, innovation and new relationships for all of us.

We mentioned earlier that we will be looking for ways to improve our curriculum with Galvanize. We’re also expanding our alumni network and alumni benefits. The combination of Hack Reactor’s and Galvanize’s alumni networks will create one of the strongest alumni bodies in the industry, with over 7,000 graduates!

Alumni are going to get more access to hiring partners and employment opportunities. All grads are also going to be able to conduct their job search for six months after graduation.

If you’ve been thinking of going to Hack Reactor, we’re positive that the decision is now clearer than ever!

How do I apply to a Hack Reactor Coding Bootcamp?

Head over to Galvanize.com to get started.

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