Le Wagon

Lets start by saying thank you to the whole Le Wagon Team in Barcelona. My time during the bootcamp was fantastic. I signed up to Le Wagon because coding had always been something I was interested in, but never really got around to learn. I bought a book or two, two years ago trying to teach myself the basics of python but ended up quitting only after a couple of days because it was just to theoretical and boring to learn by myself. The approach of Le Wagon is great, working on small problem sets with changing partners was great fun. Not only did I improve my coding everyday during the 9 weeks of the camp, but I also met some great people. The first 2-3 weeks were quite tough because I didn’t really see the bigger picture back then, but that certainly changed during and after week 4. All of the small coding challenges that we solved during the start, not really seeing where they would once lead us, started to make sense and build a coherent and surprising picture of what we would actually get out of the bootcamp. I was astonished by what all of us achieved when we started the last 3 weeks of the program, working on our very own projects. We not only learned the basics of coding front- and backend but also received many enriching insights into building a startup in the tech sector. I’d say that my biggest take aways from the 9 weeks in Barcelona were that one can learn anything and solve anything if they know where to look and persevere while doing so. Coding will become more and more important in the future and anyone, in almost every sector will be confronted with new technologies and maybe even code itself. I honestly think that Le Wagon gives us a great opportunity to prepare ourselves for that future teaching us the fun, creative and cool skill of coding.

I honestly believe that coding is the language of the future; I think everything worth being a part of involves code. I come from a family of entrepreneurs who are constantly trying to push the envelope in business, finding new and uncontested market spaces to expand and grow their ideas into realities. In their ventures they have discovered that no matter how great an idea, it cannot be scalable or profitable without incorporating technology in some way or form.

I myself studied a 4 year Bachelor of Business Science Finance and Economics Degree at the University of Cape Town and am currently studying towards my CFA® Charter. Business and Finance are my passions, over the course of my degree I had the pleasure of watching the Finance Industry transform into what is now referred to as the Fin Tech (Financial Technology) Industry. Graduating from university I realized that no matter how great and relevant a degree I had, it meant nothing if I could not communicate in the industry I so desperately wanted to be in. My decision to join Le Wagon was made to help me fulfill my dreams of joining and better understanding the Fin Tech Industry, I walked away from Le Wagon with so much more. People are mistaken in thinking that joining a coding bootcamp means you are expected to become a developer. I left Le Wagon with a deep understanding of the inner workings of technology and coding languages, the bootcamp taught me a completely different way of thinking and learning. I now have all the background knowledge to understand the backend of the technological sector in the Fin Tech Industry, which is certain to aid me in future negotiations. 

In addition to learning a selection of coding languages I was given the opportunity to be part of a community of exceptionally intelligent and talented individuals. I met and made good friends with people from all over the world, not only was I exposed to the world of technology but to a wealth of different cultures and personalities. I will forever look back on my time at Le Wagon as one of the best experiences of my life and I expect nothing less for those joining the Le Wagon community in the future.

That’s my story.
One year ago I woke up with a business idea. So as crazy as it is I quit my job and tried to figure out how to make it happen. I had no skills and no interest at all in IT but my business idea was a mobile application. Everyone told me to have a look at Le Wagon. I went at one of the meeting they’re doing here in Paris every Thursday and felt in love with this amazing place. Everyone is nice and makes you become as passionate as they are about coding.
I’m from the batch #134 and I learned how to code in 2 months, for real.
At the end of the program, in 3 months I built a MVP (which is a first version of my business idea) and everything started.
Le Wagon is not giving you wings, but it gives you the tools to build your own wings. So if you have a business idea like me, do not pay 30K€+ and let someone else to build this for you, do it yourself. For 4 reasons : It’s way cheaper, you’ll understand your own product, you’ll be freaking proud of yourself and you’ll bring a super valuable product into your own company. Have a look, you’ll see by yourself : www.big-family.fr
Thanks Le Wagon, you rock !

I have always been interested in technology, but with a background in design I thought that maybe it wasn't for me, however after completing the 9 week bootcamp wit Le Wagon I was proven wrong. It was an incredible, eye opening, challenging and rewarding experience. I realised that there is so much opportunity to be creative in coding and to create a working fully functioning app from scratch was amazing. The bootcamp also teaches to you to think in a different way, and pushes you beyond your comfort zone, but truly teaches you how to learn and keep learning. The teachers, the staff and the whole experience was beyond what I imagined.

I started my studies in advertising and graphic design in 2009, doing many courses outside my University to expand my skills in different areas that I consider, at the time, useful for my job and profesional development. Through the years, I start to realize that technology was becoming, really fast, a way of consuming products or services, in EVERY single area and industry. No matter what you need, there is  an app or a web to solve your problem; and if it doesn't exist: YOU HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY RIGHT IN FRONT OF YOU, so DEVELOP IT!
Through my years working as a graphic designer freelance, clients were always asking for basic things that nowadays, every company needs: newsletters and a web - just to start. And my first problem was that I wasn't able to take my design into the web. I think and create the sketches from the design perspective, but I was depending on developers to actually code the design and in many occasions, I would found out, that my ideas were really difficult to develop. Not to mention, that I have to depend on their schedule and budget.
When I asume the world is spinning around tech development, I decided to enrole in Le Wagon Bootcamp in Buenos Aires. Even though I had a lot of expectations, they were by far exceeded in the most positive way! I had the opportunity to practice my english, to know a lot of people around the world and know different cultures. It was surprisingly easy to overcome the intensity of two months, of non stop learning and coding, with the excellent group of people who shared this amazing experience with me! The teachers were super patient and positive, especially in the last two weeks where we struggle the time pressure to solve development issues... They were extraordinary good leaders that trust in our skills and were always there for us!
Le Wagon community is really amazing and supportive! :)

I learned how to code in Le Wagon: after 9 weeks of hard work, I’m capable to start a web application from scratch and I never learned so much in so little time. But what really amazes me is how I was able to do it: I learned through teamwork -- not only by attending classes and completing daily challenges but doing so with help from and helping people with different skills and background. I thought I’d be developing mostly hard skills, but I added soft skills to my abilities and now I feel ready to lead and teach.

Thanks to the people I met in Amsterdam, I’m currently TAing in Le Wagon Sao Paulo and preparing to be a teacher assistant in Rio de Janeiro, thrilled by seeing other students’ projects and helping them to make beautiful products. Le Wagon gives not only the tools to be a fullstack developer, they also teach how to spread this knowledge creating a great community that executes ideas all around the world -- and I couldn’t be more proud of being a part of it. 

As young graduate from a french business school and after several experiences within financial fields, I felt a strong attraction towards the digital world and entrepreneurship. However, I realized that I would not go far without any basic knowledge in coding and digital skills.

After great 9 very (very!) intensive weeks of learning how to code with Le Wagon in Lisbon, I gained much more than what I expected! Before this experience, I had no clue about anything in the coding area...

From a practical point of view, I am amazingly surprised by the level of understanding I have reached over such a short time, not only about pure coding, but also about the overall coding environment, from UX to web hosting. Le Wagon‘s program is very well built with a gradual rise in difficulty and a strong follow-up from the teaching team, that will fit to everybody, no matter their level.

Attending this coding bootcamp was also a great opportunity for me to meet and work with very interesting and smart people coming from different areas and making the whole experience even more rewarding.

I can only recommend this training and can assure you that you will get more than what you expect :)

During and after my graduation I worked at financial related jobs. Because it was not my piece of cake I decided to go abroad to get some experience and study English. And just one year ago I discovered the world of coding. 

I made a lot of research, read a lot of reviews. First of all, I wanted some affordable coding bootcamp in Europe. Second, Le Wagon offers to build something real as the final project. So, it seemed to me as the best choice. And do not forget the wonderful weather, nice beaches and amazing food in Barcelona.

I still can't believe it's over. Even though it was pretty fast track, I thought it would be even worse - more difficult or impossible to understand. I will miss it. Coding is awesome. Now it is time to do so as alumni :) - continuing work on our final project Eatamina and deepen my knowledge. I believe coding open you new word with so many opportunities. 

ALL YOU NEED IS CODE. Thank you guys!

I joined Le Wagon's Batch 6 in Paris (January – March 2015) and since then, I have been building a web agency while becoming a teacher at Le wagon on the side.

Why Le Wagon?

I see 3 main reasons why I joined Le Wagon's FullStack program at first:

1)    Trying online tutorials, I always had the same outcome: "How to switch from theory to practice?"

2)    I found it very hard to launch a web-based business without coding skills or without the ability to understand developers

3)    I wanted to test my ideas from scratch without loosing my mind in the World Wide Web of Ideas (this is something many non-technical profiles do when thinking of a business and it often leads to frustration and to giving up).

That seemed to fit Le Wagon's mission. After meeting the core team, I decided to join the program.

The Full-stack Program

This is a 9-week intensive program where you'll learn coding best practices and develop your technical mindset. One of the main strengths of their program is the balance between teaching best practices, bringing support to students and fostering autonomy and curiosity.

- You spend enough time to learn the basics during lectures or when cracking Le Wagon's challenges.

- You learn how to be autonomous, use powerful tools and have an efficient workflow.

- You are challenged but also supported to ensure you understand the core concepts.

After 6 weeks of training, you build an Airbnb-like platform within a team and you put it in production.

The last two weeks are dedicated to working on your own personal project (or you can work on a project of a team mate), being advised and assisted by le Wagon's mentors.

Rediscover the pleasure of learning

At the beginning, I was one of those to say I'd like to learn to code but did not have enough "engineering background". At Le Wagon I had the opportunity to remember that learning a new skill is not always a question of talent.

With strong dedication, commitment and above all, curiosity, you will find your way and leverage Le Wagon's methodology. At Le Wagon, you will not only be guided but also challenged to make the concept yours. Nothing comes free, and to learn anything valuable, you have to fight for it first!

Learn from amazing people

Amazing people with different backgrounds will surround you. The staff carefully select students to create an efficient and fun learning atmosphere.

From the diversity of your buddies, you'll discover a new way of thinking. Not only from engineers that will introduce you to logical structures but also from litterary profiles who will show you that sometimes efficient wording is worth tons of logical conditions.

The staff is amazing and they are always challenging themselves to improve their program. After a few batches as a Teaching Assistant and then as a Teacher, I can tell that from their 145-batch experience they have built a great methodology and a strong education platform (that I still use!).

Life After Le Wagon

The scope is huge. Lots of your classmates have an entrepreneurial background and will keep working on their project, follow teammates they have met or dedicate to new opportunities.

Some want to become developers and will apply to a junior position. Lots of them get cool offers because they are ready to learn, be productive on their very first day and bring diversity to dev teams.

Others will apply for Product Manager positions and leverage on their dual skills in business / code to collaborate efficiently with developers.

First, I personally decided to start as a freelancer and build apps for clients but also provide them with MVP services, to help identify their product and have a lean roadmap. It was an opportunity to keep on learning every day while I fulfil my entrepreneurial thirst.

Now I have turned this freelance activity into a web agency. We are specialized in digitizing corporate processes. We design & develop simple solutions to complex corporate problems.

I recently finished batch 153 at Barcelona. And i have just one thing to say about that: it worthed a lot. The course is very well structured and make our path easier. I hadn´t any background with code so in the very begining I was scared about my capability to learn code in just 9 weeks. But after I finished the bootcamp I´m very confident about what I learned and now I have one new challenge: change the world.
I started Le Wagon feeling like an old man and now i have many plans as a kid. If you want to be greater than you are know, don´t hesitate subscribe at Le Wagon.

I love tech, but I can’t code. That in a nutshell was the reason that got me to Le Wagon in Bali in April. Tech has always fascinated me and not being able to code bothered me a lot in my professional life as a software implementation consultant.

In just two months at Le Wagon, I learned how to code, how code works, how to transform my ideas into a web app and how to collaborate as a team of developers. I have to say that I had high expectations out of the camp but what I learned actually went beyond what I could have hoped for.

What impressed me ever since the first day of the camp was the online platform offered by Le Wagon and how it is set up, with lectures, tons of exercises, flashcards, videos and a lot of functions available to make the learning process faster and easier. All this incredible learning material, together with the huge enthusiasm and experience of the teachers who were always willing to solve any questions and clear up any confusion, made the camp a truly comprehensive, well-honed learning experience.  Watch my presentation video of the project my team built - Open Space of Batch #149 to see what I am talking about. What also undoubtedly "made" the experience was the sea view from the classroom terrace and the chilled living experience you can find in Bali. I didn't want to leave!

But sadly I had to leave and since I got back to run an online academy at a global IT consultancy firm, I haven't looked back - Le Wagon has definitely increased my competencies and unquestionably given me a ton of useful skills that I can apply to my daily work or any tech projects that I decide to undertake. I can now proudly call myself a coder.

Hi guys,

I’m Michael, I am 29 years old and I got a Master’ Degree in physics (research oriented) in 2014.  After that I decided to travel the world before starting my career but this experience totally changed my mind about physics and what I wanted to do. I always had a lot of different ideas in my head but I never knew where to start to make them alive (especially when the technical part begins). The idea of integrating a coding school was running in my mind and Le Wagon appeared to be one of the most effective so I did Le Wagon Montréal.

Those nine weeks of coding were an amazing experience. Although the first weeks were very hard and challenging I discovered a new way to see things. The content of the courses is very comprehensive and adapted to all backgrounds in both backend and frontend fields.

If you choose Le Wagon you will learn to code of course but not only, you’ll also learn how to launch your idea from the design to the pitch which is a useful skill if you want to open your own company!

Le Wagon is also a great human experience as everyday you work with a new classmate. During the last three weeks you’ll learn how to work as a team on a project using all the knowledge you’ve just learnt and also how to use git which is a powerful team working tool.

I’m currently working as a teacher assistant at le Wagon Montreal to help students with their daily challenges.

I would definitely recommend you to do this bootcamp for the teaching quality, their huge tech network and finally because the mindset there rocks!