Ironhack Secures $20M in Funding Round Led by Lumos Capital Group to Advance Remote Tech Education and Enterprise Training

When we started Ironhack in 2013, we knew we wanted to make a difference. Our goal was to create an outcomes-focused educational model that was inclusive of as many people as possible, particularly in underserved markets. But, we weren’t sure how big this could get.

As we saw the bootcamp market in the US taking off, we were dealing with a massive economic crisis in Europe (specifically, in Spain). Youth unemployment had reached a staggering 57%. 

This makes it all the more amazing to see just how much we’ve achieved: 

• We’ve provided over 8,000 students the hands-on, intensive education they needed to transform their careers and re-write the stories of their lives.
• We’ve become one of the premier tech bootcamps in the world, and a clear leader in Europe and Latin America.
• We’ve grown from a few people in a small conference room in Madrid to 9 campuses, in 8 countries, across 3 continents.  
• We’ve had the remarkable opportunity to work with some of the world’s most renowned and respected companies – including Banco Santander, Media Markt, and Sanitas – as well as governments across the globe to help identify and solve their tech skills gaps.

Now begins the next chapter in our story

Today, we are proud to announce that Ironhack has secured a $20 million Series B round led by Lumos Capital, with participation from Endeavor’s Catalyst Fund, as well as existing investors, including Brighteye and Creas.

We intend to use the new capital to expand our corporate training and development programs for enterprises, including on-ramps for junior talent and re-skilling, so that we may become their preferred partner to solve tech skills gaps and to accelerate their digital transformation. In addition, we will invest in our remote learning capabilities, providing students of all backgrounds and social circumstances with greater access to a world-class education in tech.

To our Hiring Partners… 

Thank you for always being a part of this incredible journey with us. For many of you, Ironhack has become your go-to for talent acquisition. By hiring our students, you’ve provided them with rewarding careers in tech and opportunities to change their lives. We can’t stress enough our gratitude, and can’t wait to see your own growth. 

To our Ironhack Staff…

Every day, you push yourselves to make Ironhack an amazing place and put students first. We can’t think of a group of more passionate people that lives with total alignment of our values and truly cares about creating a positive impact. We wouldn’t have achieved this without your dedication and commitment to our mission. 

To our Ironhackers (our alumni)…

None of this would be possible without our students. To the 8,000+ Ironhackers out there who continue to work so hard and grow in tech, you put your faith in Ironhack to transform your career. While we provided the tools and support, it was entirely up to you to persevere, believe in yourselves and take full advantage of the opportunity. You worked hard to get where you are today. It’s amazing to see your development, and we’re excited to see most of you mentor, hire and give back to the community. 

While 2020 was a profoundly challenging year for everyone, we’re optimistic as we look forward to what the future holds for education. We’re eager for the journey of growth and impact ahead at Ironhack. Most of all, we’re renewed in our commitment to helping people transform their careers and their lives through technology.

Ariel & Gonzalo

Ironhack Secures $20M in Funding Round Led by Lumos Capital Group to Advance Remote Tech Education and Enterprise Training  

Ironhack will use funding to expand its remote learning and corporate training capabilities, while helping students worldwide to transform their careers through technology.  

Miami,  January 19, 2021 - Ironhack, the global tech school, today announced that it has secured $20 million in a Series B round led by Lumos Capital, with participation from Endeavor’s Catalyst Fund, as well as existing investors including Brighteye and Creas. 

Digital transformation has rapidly accelerated by necessity amidst COVID-19, and with it, the competition for top tech talent has never been greater. At the same time, the pandemic has given rise to a need for resilient jobs in the new work-from-anywhere economy. With the pandemic estimated to increase global unemployment by 25 million by the International Labour Organization, the world needs more pathways to sustainable employment and modalities that support remote learning options for maximum student flexibility. Organizations such as the World Economic Forum have come together to launch a “Re-skilling Revolution” to train up employees. These factors have contributed to Ironhack’s swift growth and expansion, offering students and employers intensive bootcamps and immersive courses in Web Development, UX/UI Design, Data Analytics and Cybersecurity. A portion of the growth round will drive new courses and program offerings.

With campus locations in nine cities and across the United States,  Europe and Latin America, Ironhack is one of the world’s top-ranked technology education institutions. The company intends to use the new capital to expand its corporate training and development programs, including talent acquisition and re-skilling. In addition, the company will increase its investment in remote learning, providing students with greater access to a world-class education in tech, as well as the career opportunities that such training affords.

“We believe that practical skills training, a supportive global community and career development programs can give everyone, regardless of their education or employment history, the ability to write their stories through technology,” said Ariel Quiñones, co-founder of Ironhack. “Lumos Capital, the Endeavor Catalyst Fund, and our partners at Brighteye and Creas share our commitment to that vision. Their support gives us the operational and financial strength to not only empower more people, in more places, but to be a strategic partner to some of the most respected companies in the world,” 

“Ironhack has proven itself as a leading global brand in digital skills training across geographies that have growing labor needs,” stated James Tieng, Managing Partner and Co-Founder of Lumos Capital Group, a growth equity firm investing in the future of learning and work. “Ironhack’s outcomes-focused educational model, its deepening capabilities in remote and enterprise learning, and the market’s continuing shift to alternative forms of career preparation and professional development have positioned the company for both tremendous growth and social impact.” James has joined the Board and Lumos Principal Yichen Feng has been appointed as a Board Observer. 

Since 2013, Ironhack has graduated more than 8,000 students worldwide and helped hundreds of companies hire top talent at a global scale, including Visa, Capgemini, Siemens and Santander. According to the company’s last published student outcomes data (July 2020) 89% of students found a job within 180 days of graduation. 

Ironhack co-founder Gonzalo Manrique adds, “This round and our successful student outcomes demonstrate the opportunity to upskill and empower tech talent the world over. Our new investors bring tremendous education technology and global impact experience, both of which will enable our continued geographic expansion. We will become the leaders in tech education for a remote workforce by helping companies and governments across the globe acquire and re-skill tech talent, as we've done with partners like Banco Santander and Media Markt, to name a few. With the launch of remote learning and new program offerings, including our Cybersecurity curriculum, we're eager and optimistic for what the future holds.”

About Ironhack

Ironhack is an internationally renowned global tech school, offering intensive bootcamps and immersive courses in Web Development, UX/UI Design, Data Analytics and Cybersecurity. With both remote learning options and campus locations in Madrid, Barcelona, Miami, Paris, Mexico, Berlin, Amsterdam, São Paulo, and Lisbon, Ironhack has helped more than 8,000 students write their life stories through technology. Today, Ironhack helps some of the world’s best companies hire, train and retain top tech talent, including brands like Microsoft, Visa, Capgemini, Siemens and Santander. To learn more, visit Ironhack.com