As the demand for software developers grows, companies are increasingly relying on offshore developers, rather than looking locally.
And the local demand doesn't appear to be slowing down anytime soon.
In the next 10 years, the Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates that the number software development jobs in the U.S. will increase by 21 percent, from about 1.4 million to nearly 1.7 million jobs.
After a decade running a software development shop, founder and CEO Heather Terenzio said she was still struggling to find developers to bring to Boulder-based Techtonic.
She had a development team offshore but wondered if she could train a local workforce to be more productive.
The company had previously been focused on hiring candidates with college degrees in computer science, rarely straying from that archetype.
Then, one day after speaking at a vocational school, Terenzio was approached by someone working the event that inquired about a potential job. The person had only their GED, but had development experience and was looking for his first break.
After displaying his skills, he was hired by Techtonic, marking a shift in the company’s focus.
“We thought, there are more people out there like this guy that want a career in technology and have the chops, but can’t get the first opportunity,” Terenzio told Colorado Inno.
On the back of this interaction, Techtonic launched its paid apprenticeship program in 2012, the first of its kind for software development in the U.S. The Department of Labor-approved program offers candidates classroom training and hands-on employment with Techtonic.
As this program continues to grow, Techtonic announced that it has raised $6 million to expand its onshore software development and apprenticeship offerings across the country.
The Series B was led by Camden Partners, with follow-on investments from University Ventures and Zoma Capital.
Terenzio said the round will allow the company to accelerate its expansion, specifically with the apprenticeship program. Techtonic is set to open apprenticeship locations in Kansas City and El Paso in 2020, with other cities also being considered.
The 120-person company will likely grow to over 200 by the end of next year, Terenzio said, with Boulder continuing to be its primary hub.
While the apprenticeship program was originally designed to generate talent internally, Techtonic apprentices can be hired by the company’s clients at no additional cost after 1,000 hours of work together.
The program is competitive, Terenzio said, generating hundreds of applications for each cohort.
“Apprenticeships are having a moment right now,” she said. “You don’t need a full-on college degree to be a really good developer. With a program like ours, you’re getting paid on day one.”
To date, Techtonic’s apprentice program has been made up of double or triple the industry average for women, minority and veteran developers, the company said.
“Nobody has really thought about how to disrupt the hiring process and that’s what we’re trying to do,” Terenzio said.
