One of Nashville's computer coding bootcamps doesn't only want to prime people for tech jobs anymore. Its co-founders, Josh Mundy and Quawn Clark, also want to help companies complete projects that need done right now.
It's been almost two years since Nashville entrepreneurs Mundy and Clark opened Pivot Technology School. Their new add-on business is Pivot Tech Solutions, which will perform contract work for businesses and become one employment option for students completing one of the school's programs. They announced the venture in an exclusive interview with the Business Journal.
"Companies are having huge issues finding tech talent. Projects are blowing up because there's so much turnover. The hiring competition is crazy," Clark said. "Corporations may not want to take a risk with a junior-level developer, but they'll bring in our organization. They have an immediate need to get development done, and we can be a stop-gap in a lot of scenarios."
Initial clients of Pivot Tech Solutions include Brentwood-based prison operator CoreCivic (NYSE: CXW) and U.S. Smokeless Tobacco Co., which has a Nashville facility. Mundy and Clark said they're in late-stage talks with Deloitte as well as Franklin-based Mars Petcare U.S. Inc.
It's a different kind of connection than the one Pivot has established with Amazon.com Inc. (Nasdaq: AMZN) and delivery service Shipt. Those partnerships are more about helping employees at those companies gain additional skills to fill higher-paying roles, or training others to fill internal roles at those companies.
Pivot Tech Solutions will serve as an independent contractor for companies needing help with IT, dashboard design, software development, data analytics and other needs. Since work will be done virtually, clients could come from anywhere, Clark said. Senior-level developers in Mundy's and Clark's network will manage teams that will work on the projects.
"At the beginning, when we put our business plan together, this was really the end game," Mundy said. "We really wanted to create a pipeline and be able to provide opportunities for the students we trained."
Pivot's total annual revenue will cross into the seven-figure range this year. About 18 to 20 people work for the school, whether as full-time employees or instructors who are contractors. The new venture has eight employees, plus contractors.
"Our goal is to build a $100 million company within the next five years," Mundy said. "This will really catapult us in that direction."
