Education

Long Beach Tech has recognized an inherent problem with the talent pool in the city. Beyond attracting outside companies, which is increasingly higher cost, when competing with existing hi-tech hubs, a 10 year plan needs to be designed for direct development of software engineering talent. The current rate of unemployment for software engineers is 2.2% (Q1 2013), with increased demand expected. With these factors in mind, attracting a pool of software engineers to long beach would be cost prohibitive against Silicon Valley, Bolder, Boston and even Santa Monica.

Fortunately, an entry level software developer can be created in as little as 6 months of on the job training with at night learning. The basic skills required are 8th grade reading comprehension, pre-algebra (in some cases simple arithmetic), 10th grade writing. Online Courses are available for free to start, but an active application of knowledge and in person tutoring greatly accelerate this process.

Because of the nature of many tech companies, employees will work long hours, so students should be prepared for the maxims of this brave new world. Long Beach Tech proposes to teach new working age students as on the job trainees. This type of work experience will let students know if the world of Software Engineering is a place they would be excited about being.

Startup Founders will benefit from education by Long Beach Tech Mentors, and SBDC advisors. They will help to advise from a strategy level on moving the business into the next stage.

The three Stages of Education in the Tech Eco-System:

1) K-12 Learning - Long Beach Tech will host a coding for kids course 2-3 times a week at Long Beach Tech's facilities (daily rental, or otherwise permanent based on funding). The free course will provide at facilities computers, configured for software development. Parents can send children to the after school program to learn basic computer programming skills.

2) 14+ Internships - Long Beach Tech will take applications for Interns through the Pacific Gateway for entry level programming interns. These interns will be shadowed by a senior developer and placed onto a project for a Long Beach Tech company. Interns will be encouraged to work enduring hours with regular staff, to realize the time needed to successfully launch a new tech company. In that 6 month Internship program, an Intern should also take the K-12 programming course, eventually graduating to teaching these course to show full subject comprehension. After 6 months, interns will be evaluated and recommended for permanent positions within Long Beach Tech companies.

3) Founders - Long Beach Tech will hire individual consultants and mentors to work one on one with Long Beach Tech founders using SBDC funds and sourcing channels. Long Beach Tech will work to offer many of the same benefits of other start up incubators, but without the same quid-pro-quo motivators present at a traditional business incubator. Founders are coached on the best path at building a sustainable business in the city, by experienced ex founders.