Startup Institute launches in London

London enjoys a formidable reputation as a fast-growing startup ecosystem, but the demand for skilled employees outstrips supply, with startup job adverts up 44% since 2012 and nearly 5000 vacancies unfilled. Startup Institute will help address this training gap and support the capital’s startup economy.

The career accelerator gives recent grads, young professionals and career changers the opportunity to learn the skills they need to build something from the ground up.

Founded in 2012 and already a huge success in Boston, New York and Chicago, Startup Institute will be a welcome addition to London’s Tech City where 15,000 new startups were launched in 2013 alone. The Startup Institute full-time program in London will begin on 2 June, 2014. Applications for the inaugural class will be accepted from today.

Startup Institute’s immersive eight-week curriculum is industry-built and will be responsive to the exact needs of the hiring partners in London’s startup ecosystem. The course includes four tracks in product and design, technical marketing, sales and account management, and web development.

Startup Institute’s London hiring partners will get access to a pool of well-vetted graduates that are already familiar with their companies, and are ready to roll up their sleeves and make a difference. This means that nine out of ten Startup Institute students find a job within three months of graduating from the programme. In the US, Startup Institute alumni are making an impact at more than 100 companies such as HubSpot, edX, Boundless, HowAboutWe, Bit.ly, Upworthy, RentHop and more.

Aaron O’Hearn, Co-Founder and CEO of Startup Institute, commented: “London has an exceptional workforce, but there is a risk that the city’s dynamic startup ecosystem will not reach its potential due to the lack of the right skills. We’re going to help change that.

Traditional workplace skills don’t always transition well into startup culture, but that doesn’t mean that talented people should dismiss job opportunities at startups. Startup Institute helps people develop the softer skills to help them make this cultural shift and become valuable startup employees.”

Jon Bradford, Managing Director of TechStars London, commented: “Finding the right talent is a major challenge for growing companies. Many don’t have the time or resources to find, train or onboard the perfect person; and hiring the wrong person can be devastating. What Startup Institute does by training, accelerating and orientating talent for startups will be an incredible win for London, and all of the growing companies here.”