Ask HN: Would like feedback on marcademy a new growth hacker school

https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=5662927

by timoconnor • 13 years ago

3 9 13 years ago

news.ycombinator.com

Me, Michael Staton (Inigral, Learned Capital, DevBootcamp...), Ahmed Siddiqui (University Hacker Olympics, Startup Weekend...), Vivek Bhaskaran (Survey Analytics, QuestionPro...) and others just launched marcademy.com, an immersion school teaching Growth Hacking and Online Marketing. Would like input on the idea. Thanks

ph0rque• 13 years ago

I love the content/curriculum, but I'm in different situation: I'd like to become the growth hacker at the company I currently work for as a web dev.

Do you have a content-only, online learning option that you would make available at a less expensive price?

soneca• 13 years ago

+1 for online learning option...

timoconnor4• 13 years ago

Thanks

timoconnor4• 13 years ago

Thanks for taking the time to provide your feedback. I appreciate it. Glad you love the content/curriculum. I hear you about your situation. Unfortunately at this time we only plan to focus on the in-person immersion approach since we think the learning by doing and being immersed in it is the best way to learn. There are many online learning options already and suggest you do a Google search and you'll probably find something that may work for you. That being said I suggest you carefully evaluate the online programs and look for one that has a large amount of offline projects you have to do and do with real companies. Hiring companies will want to see that.

pjnewton2• 13 years ago

I think this is a good idea. The downside I see here (For me personally) is it is location prohibitive. I can see the value in spending $10k to get this education from some top people int he field, building a good network, and assistance landing a job. I don't think the cost is too high. I'd say most top performers could probably make there money back with a signing bonus if they job a good job offer.

Personally I'm looking for something like this. There are a million ways to learn to code online (without much risk) but there are very few good resources for learning performance marketing. My personal issue is I would not be able to spend 8 weeks away from my wife and kids while also coming up with the cash to feed, shelter, transport me around SF during the program.

I think the idea is solid though. I think the best non-traditional education programs out there need to offer job assistance in order to attract people. At least until there is a paradigm shift away from the high value on traditional education, no matter how useless it is.

timoconnor4• 13 years ago

Thanks for taking the time to provide your feedback. I appreciate it. About living in the Bay Area for 8 weeks, you might find the cost is not as much as you think. You can probably rent a bed room in a shared house for $500-$750/month and pubic transportation is a plenty in the Bay Area. But I do hear you about that concern. Wish we could offer you the program in your location. Where by chance do you live as we might take the school on the road next year.

pjnewton2• 13 years ago

I'm currently in the Phoenix area where there is a budding tech scene! Just say'in :)

keenahn• 13 years ago

Unfortunately, I'm not seeing how this is better or different from the millions of other "online marketing" programs I've seen advertised on Warrior Forum or similar. Except this one is an actual "bootcamp" style workshop that costs $11,000. OK.

But I am still not in any way assured how this would be different from other content courses.

What is your unfair advantage? Unfortunately, I don't recognize those names you mentioned, so that doesn't really sell me on it. If I'm going to plunk down $11K, I need to know why I am getting a return on my investment.

Best of luck

EDIT: I just saw that the top 4 students will be guaranteed market-rate job placement. That goes a long way to assuage my fears, but still, I'm not quite sure I'd pay $11K for this.

timoconnor4• 13 years ago

Thanks for taking the time to provide your feedback. I appreciate it. And we'll take your wish of Good Luck. The biggest things we think differentiate us from other approaches is the bootcamp approach by applying the learning directly at real live companies real world marketing problems. So no simulations. The other is as you noted at the end, the commitment to getting people jobs. What do you think a program should be priced at? I'd value your insight.

Ask HN: Would like feedback on marcademy a new growth hacker school

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