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Udacity Raises $105M Series D, Bringing Valuation to $1B

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Re: Udacity Raises $105M Series D, Bringing Valuation to $1B

#41
post #2

I taught myself to code on Udacity, and in a couple weeks I'm going to be launching a social network that I built with one other person. Shit works. There's no reason why everyone shouldn't be on there. edit: Obligatory link to sign up for the private beta: http://fwdeveryone.com/ Also, here is what I wrote about the experience at the time: http://alexkrupp.typepad.com/sensemaking/2013/11/2012-my-yea...

I'm learning to code myself too. What courses did you take on Udacity?

Re: Udacity Raises $105M Series D, Bringing Valuation to $1B

#42

No they raised $105M in preferred shares with 1x or more liquidity preferences. The common stock is worth no more than the value of a way out of the money penny option that is only excercised in the case of a liquidity event. Meaning the real valuation of the company is maybe two or three hundred million. Of course founders don't tell employees that because they can get talent for pennies on the dollar this way.

How do you get to 300M? Is is possible that someone like University of Phoenix might offer $1B for the company? If so, might it be accepted? If so, how much are shares worth?

At my old job, whenever investors bought in they offers to buy out employee shares at the stated valuation.

Re: Udacity Raises $105M Series D, Bringing Valuation to $1B

#43
I think Udacity is great but I don't know about efficacy of it. I think it's going to face the same challenges as any other online education site. I think one of the founders had some doubts a few months back about direction of the site, it didn't prove to be what it set out to be. In any case I wish Udacity all the best because I like them.

Re: Udacity Raises $105M Series D, Bringing Valuation to $1B

#44
post #41
post #2

I taught myself to code on Udacity, and in a couple weeks I'm going to be launching a social network that I built with one other person. Shit works. There's no reason why everyone shouldn't be on there. edit: Obligatory link to sign up for the private beta: http://fwdeveryone.com/ Also, here is what I wrote about the experience at the time: http://alexkrupp.typepad.com/sensemaking/2013/11/2012-my-yea...

I'm learning to code myself too. What courses did you take on Udacity?

CS101 and CS253. I've taken a couple others, but those were the most important ones. C.f. the blog post.

Re: Udacity Raises $105M Series D, Bringing Valuation to $1B

#45

I am one of the first cohort of Udacity to complete Front End Web Developer Nanodegree. However, when I applied for a developer job(something called Udacity Experience Program) on their career site, few weeks after I got an email describing I am not a good fit for the role. I have been looking for an entry level developer job for last couple of months. During job interviews when I mention regarding the Certification…

Are you looking for jobs at startups? If so, it's going to be difficult to get hired regardless of your training if you've never worked in the field before. This is just due to some quirks about the economics of the industry. It's much easier to get hired at a dev shop, work there for a year or two, and then apply to work at a startup or large company after that.

Re: Udacity Raises $105M Series D, Bringing Valuation to $1B

#46

I am one of the first cohort of Udacity to complete Front End Web Developer Nanodegree. However, when I applied for a developer job(something called Udacity Experience Program) on their career site, few weeks after I got an email describing I am not a good fit for the role. I have been looking for an entry level developer job for last couple of months. During job interviews when I mention regarding the Certification…

Are you looking for jobs at startups? If so, it's going to be difficult to get hired regardless of your training if you've never worked in the field before. This is just due to some quirks about the economics of the industry. It's much easier to get hired at a dev shop, work there for a year or two, and then apply to work at a startup or large company after that.

Right. Few startups and dev shops that I have interviewed in SF Bay area are looking for those developers (2-5 years experience) and the market here is crazy for experienced ones.

Few days ago I posted on HN (Who wants to be hired) even to work for free as an intern for couple of weeks but so far has not received any response.

Re: Udacity Raises $105M Series D, Bringing Valuation to $1B

#47
post #9

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I wouldn't be so down on vocational training for software...It is a field that has an unusually high requirement for ongoing learning. And when you have to learn some new tech, usually you have to do it now, and in-place, not next September, in the nearest college town. Given the high ongoing learning requirements that software has, I think there is a pretty clear need for training that's delivered where you are and…

I feel that the ongoing learning requirements that software has lead to developers becoming VERY good at learning new software.... which means they don't need training, because they can self-teach. At least that has been my experience.

Sure, but if they can spend $50 or $100 for an online course as part of their "self-teaching", then a goodly percentage probably will.

Re: Udacity Raises $105M Series D, Bringing Valuation to $1B

#48

I am one of the first cohort of Udacity to complete Front End Web Developer Nanodegree. However, when I applied for a developer job(something called Udacity Experience Program) on their career site, few weeks after I got an email describing I am not a good fit for the role. I have been looking for an entry level developer job for last couple of months. During job interviews when I mention regarding the Certification…

where geographically are you looking?

Re: Udacity Raises $105M Series D, Bringing Valuation to $1B

#49

I've used quite a few other (pay) MOOC services; subscription based, pay by class, free, etc... Pluralsight, Udemy, Lynda, Coursera, Code School, Stack Skills I've also used some small independent ones as well (Bitfountain is just one example). The thing I would be really curious to see (but unfortunately don't think we will see any time soon) is how the profit numbers stack up on these different pay models. For the…

As someone who wants to use perhaps one or two--but certainly not all-- of these services, I'm curious which of these services you've found most valuable. I'm asking generally, though I'm mostly interested in compsci/dev topics, if that's helpful.

Re: Udacity Raises $105M Series D, Bringing Valuation to $1B

#50

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Are you looking for jobs at startups? If so, it's going to be difficult to get hired regardless of your training if you've never worked in the field before. This is just due to some quirks about the economics of the industry. It's much easier to get hired at a dev shop, work there for a year or two, and then apply to work at a startup or large company after that.

Right. Few startups and dev shops that I have interviewed in SF Bay area are looking for those developers (2-5 years experience) and the market here is crazy for experienced ones. Few days ago I posted on HN (Who wants to be hired) even to work for free as an intern for couple of weeks but so far has not received any response.

Interesting, maybe it's different in NYC due to all the money in media, fashion, healthcare, and other industries where tech is more peripheral. Recently I've also seen some folks have success after regularly attending the weekly hack nights for their technology of choice, and then get hired after a couple months of that.
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