This Week in Startups E1049: freeCodeCamp Founder Quincy Larson shares insights on democratizing developer skills, which programs to learn to land a coding job, if anyone can learn to code, maximizing earning potential & more!
Apr 24, 2020
Quincy Larson, founder of freeCodeCamp, shares his inspiring journey from teaching to revolutionizing coding education through a non-profit platform. He discusses how anyone can learn to code and the impressive success stories from users. The conversation highlights the importance of practical skills over traditional degrees and newer pathways into tech, such as mobile development. Quincy also addresses the impact of COVID-19 on user growth and the global nature of freeCodeCamp, emphasizing the community's role in fostering collaboration and support for aspiring developers.
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Pandemic Impact & Funding
- Free Code Camp, a donor-supported non-profit, saw a significant increase in users during the pandemic, from 6 million to 10-11 million monthly visitors.
- Despite its impact, the organization operates on a modest budget of around $371,000 annually.
Coding Despite Disability
- Free Code Camp has a significant number of blind developers in its community, showcasing that motivation overcomes limitations.
- This demonstrates that learning to code is accessible to anyone with sufficient drive.
Motivation Over Opportunity
- Quincy Larson argues that lack of motivation, not opportunity, hinders people from learning to code.
- He emphasizes the importance of believing in oneself and pushing back against societal expectations.