SV Academy Partners with Arizona State University and Florida International University to Help More People Make It In the Tech Industry, No Coding Required

SV Academy, the first tuition-free, online vocational school that provides job seekers with access to high-growth sales careers, today announces it has partnered with Arizona State University and Florida International University to help more people jumpstart careers in technology without having to learn how to code through its newly launched Collegiate Program. In tandem, the company is announcing an investment from Ashton Kutcher and Guy Oseary of Sound Ventures. 

“We’re excited to partner with SV Academy, a team that’s democratizing access to life-changing careers and economic opportunity with a truly unique approach — this is education that’s hands-on and tuition-free, with a job on the other side,” said Ashton Kutcher, Co-founder and General Partner at Sound Ventures.

Through the launch of the Collegiate Program, Arizona State University and Florida International University graduates have access to:  

• A full-time job offer with a median starting package of $79,000 plus benefits and equity upon completion
• A 12-week, tuition-free, fully-online technology sales training program that teaches human-centered skills led by mentors from Google, Oracle, Salesforce, SAP, LinkedIn and Facebook
• Job preparation and placement support at more than 200 companies in SV Academy’s network, including companies like SurveyMonkey, Palo Alto Networks, Pure Storage and Cloudflare
• 12 months of on-the-job training and mentorship and access to the SV Academy career network and events program
• A co-branded SV Academy program certificate that’s issued by the university for any ASU or FIU alumni or senior graduating within 60 days

As a leader in online education and one of the largest public universities by enrollment in the US, ASU is an ideal inaugural partner for SV Academy as the university has shown a significant commitment to increasing access to learning through online courses. Through the Collegiate Program, ASU will be able to route more hardworking alumni to high-growth tech jobs in the state of California, which contains the second-highest concentration of ASU alumni in the country. 

“Sales skills have staying power, and we’re honored to work with ASU and FIU, two leading universities focused on diversity and increasing access to education through online learning,” said Rahim Fazal, CEO and co-founder of SV Academy. “Both universities believe in our unique approach to helping underrepresented talent transition into the tech industry and stand behind our value-add, and we’re excited to expand our reach to even more hardworking graduates across the country.”

“At ASU, we’re passionate about giving our students and alumni the resources they need to pursue their dream careers,” said Darcy Richardson, Director of Continuing & Professional Education for EdPlus at Arizona State University. “With so many of our graduates interested in technology and our close proximity to California, where many of our students come from, partnering with SV Academy is another way for us to help people pursue the career they want.”

SV Academy sought out FIU as an initial program partner because in addition to spearheading innovation in the online education space, it has a very diverse student body and graduates more Hispanics than any other university in the continental U.S. FIU recognizes SV Academy’s mission to diversify the tech industry, making the university a prime program partner.

“SV Academy shares our zeal for providing accessibility to life-changing education and gives graduates the tangible skills and mentorship that make them immediately hirable and valuable members of the tech community,” said Joseph Riquelme, Assistant Vice President, FIU Online, FIU. “This partnership marks a significant milestone for FIU and opens up doors to careers in tech for our alumni everywhere.”

Make Money, Not Code: A New Pathway to Work in Tech 

It’s no secret that landing a job in technology is one of the most coveted roles after graduation. Unlike other industries that require years of experience, technology is a field hungry for young, in-demand talent who are eager to earn a high salary and pay off student debt.  

But for many recent graduates, coding is both unrealistic and unappealing. In fact, a recent McKinsey report estimates 50 percent of today’s jobs are susceptible to artificial intelligence, further confirming that engineers are coding themselves out of a job. That’s why SV Academy, which has already generated over $40M in full-time offers for its graduates, makes it possible to work in tech, no coding required. 

Arizona State University and Florida International University recognize this opportunity and are leading the charge in giving alumni who need assistance in navigating career options or who might be overlooked based on location, gender, race or socioeconomic status a chance to work in technology, a fast-track to Silicon Valley and beyond. 

Since 2017, SV Academy has led 28 cohorts and transitioned hundreds of fellows into high-paying, high-growth sales careers. On average, graduates of the program secure a career in 39 days, whereas it takes the average college graduate three to six months to secure employment after graduation. Unique to SV Academy is its approach to sourcing non-traditional talent and to date, the company’s graduates are 25 percent African Americans, 16 percent Latinx, 60 percent women, and 70 percent first-generation college graduates. Additionally, 70 percent of graduates are promoted within the first year, with all demographic groups advancing at the same rate. The company was co-founded by CEO Rahim Fazal, whose last company, Involver, was acquired by Oracle, and COO Joel Scott, the former VP of Operations at Hewlett Packard.

To apply today as an ASU alum, go to: sv.academy/asu-sales-certificate
To apply today as an FIU alum, go to: sv.academy/fiu-sales-certificate

About SV Academy
Founded in 2017, SV Academy is the non-coding way to make it in America. Through a tuition-free, online 12-week fellowship program, SV Academy offers under-resourced, underrepresented communities access to sales careers in the tech industry. The company provides mentorship, job placement assistance, and post-hire support such as alumni networking events and coaching, with 70% of its graduates promoted in the first year. The company is backed by leading venture capitalists including Owl Ventures, Uprising, Bloomberg Beta, Kapor Capital, Rethink Education, and Sound Ventures. To learn more, visit sv.academy.

About Arizona State University
Arizona State University has developed a new model for the American Research University, creating an institution that is committed to access, excellence and impact. ASU measures itself by those it includes, not by those it excludes. As the prototype for a New American University, ASU pursues research that contributes to the public good, and ASU assumes major responsibility for the economic, social and cultural vitality of the communities that surround it.

About FIU
Florida International University is Miami’s public research university. FIU is focused on student success. According to U.S. News and World Report, FIU has 35 programs in the top 100 in the nation among public universities, including 15 in the top 50. FIU is a top U.S. research university with more than $200 million in annual expenditures and is designated as an “Emerging Preeminent State Research University” by the Florida Board of Governors. FIU ranks 15th in the nation among public universities for patent production, which drives innovation, and is one of the institutions that helps make Florida the top state for higher education. The Next Horizon fundraising campaign is furthering FIU’s commitment to providing students Worlds Ahead opportunities. Today, FIU has two campuses and multiple centers, and supports artistic and cultural engagement through its three museums: Patricia & Phillip Frost Art Museum, the Wolfsonian-FIU, and the Jewish Museum of Florida-FIU. FIU is a member of Conference USA, with more than 400 student-athletes participating in 18 sports. The university has awarded more than 330,000 degrees to many leaders in South Florida and beyond. For more information about FIU, visit www.fiu.edu.
 

Contact Information

Emma Baron

Media Contact

VSC for SV Academy

svacademy@vsc.co