AA

Austen Allred

04/03/19

@ Y Combinator

The highest leverage activity any human can have is inspiring others to do what they're capable of, and I see Lambda School as the realization of that.

AA

Austen Allred

04/03/19

@ Y Combinator

Many students experience impostor syndrome, feeling unconfident about applying for jobs as software engineers, which leads to procrastination.

AA

Austen Allred

04/03/19

@ Y Combinator

We encourage students to start applying for jobs earlier, as once they do, they often get interviews and secure high-paying positions quickly.

AA

Austen Allred

04/03/19

@ Y Combinator

We have part-time programs available for those who cannot commit full-time to the seven-month program, and we also provide living stipends to support students.

AA

Austen Allred

04/03/19

@ Y Combinator

The biggest challenge in admissions is getting qualified candidates to apply, as many potential students doubt their ability to get accepted.

AA

Austen Allred

04/03/19

@ Y Combinator

We have mechanisms in place to help students build a professional network, which is crucial for their job search after graduation.

AA

Austen Allred

04/03/19

@ Y Combinator

I believe in the value of liberal arts education, but I disagree that it can only be learned within the walls of a university.

AA

Austen Allred

04/03/19

@ Y Combinator

Lambda School focuses on vocational training to help students earn as much money as possible, with the idea that once they are financially stable, they can explore liberal arts education later.

AA

Austen Allred

04/03/19

@ Y Combinator

Lambda School's educational experience is among the best in the world, which is essential for making a free upfront online education work.

AA

Austen Allred

04/03/19

@ Y Combinator

The real challenge is not just adopting our business model, but improving the student experience and outcomes over time.

AA

Austen Allred

04/03/19

@ Y Combinator

Raising venture capital allows us to grow Lambda School significantly larger and more impactful than if we were to bootstrap it alone.

AA

Austen Allred

04/03/19

@ Y Combinator

I didn't want people to go through the holidays planning on coming to work in January and then the company not being there.

AA

Austen Allred

04/03/19

@ Y Combinator

Starting a company is by definition saying, I think what I can do is worth more than what other people will pay me for.

AA

Austen Allred

04/03/19

@ Y Combinator

Mispriced human capital is fundamental to understanding the labor market and how people are compensated.

AA

Austen Allred

04/03/19

@ Y Combinator

There's a huge shortage of nurses because nursing schools are capped due to funding issues, which drives labor shortages across the economy.

AA

Austen Allred

04/03/19

@ Y Combinator

We're looking at labor market shortages and aiming to fill those gaps, which can be as large as five million people at a time.

AA

Austen Allred

04/03/19

@ Y Combinator

The educational experience at Lambda School will probably always be online, even if students meet in person occasionally. I never wanted to stop working on Lambda School, even if it meant doing it for minimum wage forever.

AA

Austen Allred

04/03/19

@ Y Combinator

Lambda School's instructional design is built from first principles, focusing on ensuring all students are engaged and learning effectively.

AA

Austen Allred

04/03/19

@ Y Combinator

In the beginning, many believed that you can't teach effectively online, and that students need to have skin in the game to succeed.

AA

Austen Allred

04/03/19

@ Y Combinator

We need to help the 98% of society who aren't natural autodidacts learn how to teach themselves effectively.

AA

Austen Allred

04/03/19

@ Y Combinator

The traditional education system often overlooks why some students fail, assuming it's the students' fault rather than the school's approach.

AA

Austen Allred

04/03/19

@ Y Combinator

We built Lambda School around the idea that students should be able to start working on real projects from day one, rather than waiting to learn fundamentals first.

AA

Austen Allred

04/03/19

@ Y Combinator

Remote work has trade-offs, and while it offers flexibility, it can also complicate team cohesion and collaboration.

AA

Austen Allred

04/03/19

@ Y Combinator

I believe the best high-growth companies will still be built in Silicon Valley, while the best educational institutions can be remote.

AA

Austen Allred

04/03/19

@ Y Combinator

The market struggles to measure product quality accurately, often relying on revenue as a trailing indicator.

AA

Austen Allred

04/03/19

@ Y Combinator

Teaching taste in product development is challenging, but it's essential for creating successful products that resonate with users.

A CS Education That's Free Until You Get a Job - Austen Allred of Lambda School

Takeaways