AlternativesToCollege.com Planning First Private Capital Raise

After a year and a half of development, an unveiling in early 2020, and over one million dollars in founders’ capital, privately held startup Alternatives to College LLC plans to raise up to three million dollars in a private offering for accredited investors.  The company, headquartered in Boca Raton, Florida, has developed the largest, most comprehensive directory of what they call faster and cheaper non-degree training programs in the United States. These programs are provided by more than three thousand schools, bootcamps and apprenticeship programs.

The need for non-degree programs that offer training in high-demand jobs at a fraction of the cost in time and money compared to college degree programs is exacerbated by the Covid-19 pandemic and resultant layoffs. Company founder L. Joseph Schmoke says, “Thousands of those laid off from jobs in retail, the restaurant, hospitality and other industries are now reevaluating their chosen career paths. Many realize they can take courses that last ten or twelve weeks and quickly get a job that pays more and offers more security. But they don’t know where to go to find these training programs and courses. That’s where we come in.”

The company’s website, www.alternativestocollege.com, is accessible at no cost to the public. Revenue is generated from the training organizations listed on the site. “It’s a bit like the old Yellow Pages,” Schmoke said, “where every company offering a product or service had to be listed because people who wanted those products and services went to the omnipresent big yellow book.”

Alternatives to College, a limited liability company, has been capitalized by its seasoned serial entrepreneur founders. Schmoke says the Covid-19 pandemic has created an immediate need for the 40,000 courses and apprenticeships listed on the website and additional capital is needed to get this information to the public.  He also noted that only experienced accredited investors will be invited to join him and his founders’ team as LLC Members, i.e., shareholders.
 

Contact Information

L. Joseph Schmoke

Founder/CEO

Joe Schmoke

(1) 561-289-4102

js@alternativestocollege.com