Our Mission

Floodgate Academy is dedicated to providing world class technical education to people from underrepresented backgrounds. The founding team believes given the proper tools, support, and environment to learn, anyone can build the skills needed for a successful technical career.

We were very pragmatic about crafting an experience that relates to people from non-majority backgrounds, giving them the confidence to thrive in startup culture. Learning technical concepts is a difficult task by itself. By providing equipment, connectivity, food, transportation, and a modest stipend Floodgate provides the proper environment for our students to acquire skills.

Classroom work is only one part of the Floodgate Academy experience. Simulations and project work will never be able to take the place of real world experience. That's why we partner with progressive tech companies to give our students on the job experience. Once our students graduate, they'll have the experience needed to be productive from day one.

Our Team

We’ve put together a team with an average of over 15 years experience in technical roles at top companies. We know what it takes for our students to be successful on the job and will work tirelessly to ensure they’re productive from day one.

DeVaris Brown

Instruction

Studied Math & Computer Science, University of Illinois; Ex Product Manager VSCO, Zendesk; Ex Dev Ops at Microsoft & Intel

Kaiton Williams

Curriculum

Ph.D Information Science, Cornell University; Ex Operations Architect at Microsoft

Arif Gursel

Strategy

MBA, University of Chicago; Ex CPO at MyStay, Sr. PM at Zillow, Hospitality CTO/Technical Global Alliance Manager/PM/SDET at Microsoft

Advisors

Sean Murphy

Strategy & Partnerships

Interim CEO, Inner City Advisors; President & Managing Director, Fund Good Jobs; Member of President Obama's White House Business Council; American Express NGEN Fellow; Cordes Foundation Fellow;

Dr. Bryan Brown

Curriculum

Associate Professor, Curriculum Studies and Teacher Education and the Stanford Teacher Education Program (STEP), Stanford University; Associate Dean of Students, Stanford Graduate School of Education

Carmen Rojas

Strategy & Partnerships

CEO of The Workers Lab; Former Acting Director of Collective Impact at Living Cities, Director of Strategic Programs at the Mitchell Kapor Foundation; Ph.D. in City and Regional Planning from the University of California, Berkeley(Fulbright Scholar)

Frequently Asked Questions

What will I learn at Floodgate Academy?

At Floodgate Academy, you'll learn the skills you need to become a developer operations engineer. Check out the curriculum page for more details.

Why developer operations?

We saw there was a need in the market for good dev ops engineers. Dev ops skills are in high demand and can provide a greate launching pad for exploration into other disciplines.

How does the program work?

We alternate between classroom for 3 months and on the job training for 3 months.

How much does the program cost?

The program is free.

What is the application process?

The application process consists of 3 phases: application, assignment, and interview. Check out the apply page for more information.

What do I need to bring to class?

All you need to bring to class is an open mind, willingness to learn, and a hunger to succeed. We'll take care of the rest. Floodgate will provide you a laptop to use for the duration of your time in class with us.

Does Floodgate help with job placement?

Yes. Floodgate actively works on your behalf to find progressive companies where you can receive proper mentorship and apply your skills for the internship period and upon graduation.

Will I receive a vendor certification upon completion of the program?

We do not teach to a particular vendor's certification path. As industry trends change, we believe teaching vendor agnostic skills,coupled with work experience gives our graduates the best chance at success.

Where is Floodgate Academy located?

Floodgate Academy currently operates in Oakland, CA and Seattle, WA.

How can I contact Floodgate Academy?

Send us an email at .