NEW YORK & SAN FRANCISCO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Kaplan, creator of the test prep industry and its leading player, has acquired Dev Bootcamp, originator of the software coding bootcamp model and its leading player. With this acquisition, Kaplan becomes not only the largest provider of test prep worldwide but also one of the largest players in the emerging market of coding bootcamps. The purchase price was not disclosed.
Founded in February 2012, Dev Bootcamp pioneered the model of immersive coding “bootcamps” that has since proliferated into a robust industry. Designed to give individuals the coding skills needed to secure entry-level positions in a dynamic software development job market, the 9-week Dev Bootcamp program has graduated more than 600 students since 2012 while maintaining an 85% employment rate measured four months after graduation.
“Dev Bootcamp has been tremendously innovative in originating a new industry that addresses a market need, while also scaling an inspiring culture of teaching and learning across multiple locations,” said Bernardo Rodriguez, head of Kaplan’s new economy skills training (NEST) initiative. “Coming from another immersion learning industry where we’ve seen many operations come and go, we know firsthand the enormous challenge of maintaining high quality programs, with consistently strong results, while expanding reach to a growing number of students and markets. Dev Bootcamp and Kaplan have a shared mission of helping students and individuals succeed, and we believe that by combining our experience and expertise, we can help establish an industry standard in an evolving market.”
“Kaplan has a 76-year track record of delivering outcomes-based learning programs that change people’s lives,” said Jonathan Stowe, Partner and President, Dev Bootcamp. “Being a part of the Kaplan family will further our mission to provide a world class, immersive education that enables our graduates to have meaningful livelihoods as software developers. We are excited to break new ground in the immersive education space by combining Dev Bootcamp’s curriculum and staff with Kaplan’s team of education experts.”
The acquisition furthers Kaplan’s expansion into new economy skills training, complementing its existing NEST offerings under the Metis brand, launched in December 2013. Metis (www.thisismetis.com) currently includes bootcamps for data science, product design and software coding. Dev Bootcamp gains the global resources of an established educational powerhouse. Dev Bootcamp will retain its operating independence and reside under the new Kaplan’s Advance Division. The acquisition will not change any day-to-day activities for students or staff.
About Kaplan, Inc.
Kaplan, Inc. (www.kaplan.com) is a leading international provider of educational and career services for individuals, schools, and businesses. Kaplan serves students of all ages through a wide array of offerings including higher education, test preparation, professional training, and programs for kids in grades K through 12. With nearly 400 locations in more than 30 countries, Kaplan serves more than one million students each year. Kaplan is a subsidiary of Graham Holdings Company (NYSE:GHC) and its largest division. In 2013, Kaplan reported $2.2 billion in revenue.
About Dev Bootcamp
Dev Bootcamp is a 9-week program, which transforms beginners into full-stack web developers in San Francisco, Chicago, and New York. Started in 2012, Dev Bootcamp has graduated 600 junior developers who currently energize development teams all over the world. Students spend 70 - 90 hours a week building applications with Sinatra, HTML, CSS, JavaScript, SQL, and Ruby on Rails.
Note to editors: Kaplan is a subsidiary of The Graham Holdings Company (NYSE: GHC)