What Operation Spark does

Operation Spark is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit software training organization founded in 2013 and headquartered in New Orleans, Louisiana. It delivers two program tracks: an adult workforce "Immersion" software engineering bootcamp and a "High School to High Wage" pipeline serving Louisiana public high school students. The organization reports engaging more than 600 young people annually and places graduates with over 100 hiring companies, including IBM, Cisco, GE, LinkedIn, PayPal, Ubisoft, Nike, and Ochsner Health, at an average reported starting salary of $67,000.

The Immersion program is built on a partnership with Hack Reactor established in 2015 and covers JavaScript and full-stack web development, with supplemental cloud credentialing delivered via Cloud Academy. The organization is accredited by the Council on Occupational Education, licensed by the Louisiana Board of Regents, and approved as a training provider by the Louisiana Department of Education and the Louisiana Workforce Commission. A transfer-credit pathway with Tulane University's School of Professional Advancement provides academic stackability. Programming has expanded beyond New Orleans into Baton Rouge and is delivered in tiered Industry-Based Credentials at Levels 1, 2, and 3.

Revenue mechanics combine tuition from the adult Immersion program — listed at $14,325 for the full course — with philanthropic grants and donations from corporate, community, and institutional funders. Notable capital events include a $1 million grant from Entergy in 2016, alongside ongoing support from partners such as United Way and the Urban League of Louisiana. Reported headcount is small (1-10 employees), suggesting a lean operating model with substantial dependence on philanthropic funding and partner delivery channels.

Name

Operation Spark

Legal name

Operation Spark

Website

https://operationspark.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2013

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

New Orleans

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Tuition Revenue: Tuition from multi-phase bootcamp program: Prep (free), Bootcamp ($825), Precourse ($500), Junior ($13,000). Total tuition for paid phases approximately $14,325.
2. Philanthropic Funding: As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, majority of operating revenue comes from philanthropic funds including state and local grants, individual donations, and foundation support. Partners include United Way of Southeast Louisiana and Louisiana Department of Child and Family Services.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Operation Spark operates an accelerated, multi-phase software engineering training program (Immersion) that takes adult learners from computer user to fully autonomous full-stack developer in less than a year through sequential phases: free Prep, paid Bootcamp ($825), Precourse ($500), Junior Phase ($13,000), and Senior Phase. The organization also runs a High School to High Wage program for students ages 15-17 covering HTML/CSS/JavaScript and web/mobile development, and a Teacher Academy for educator certification. Post-graduation Job Hunt Support connects graduates with employer partners.

Product overview

Operation Spark is Louisiana's only non-profit software bootcamp offering a multi-phase workforce development program and high school education tracks. The core Adult Workforce Program (Immersion) consists of five sequential phases: free Prep, paid Bootcamp ($825), Precourse ($500), Junior Phase ($13,000), and Senior Phase, totaling less than a year of training. The High School to High Wage Program offers courses in HTML/CSS/JavaScript, Advanced JavaScript, Professional Web/Mobile Development, Video Game Programming, and Internet of Things for students ages 15-17. Supporting offerings include Teacher Academy for educator certification and the Culture of Code philosophy. Post-graduation Job Hunt support assists graduates with employment placement.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Adult Workforce Program (Immersion) An accelerated software engineering bootcamp for adults ages 18+ preparing them for full-stack developer careers in less than a year through progressive phases (Prep, Bootcamp, Precourse, Junior Phase, Senior Phase), culminating in job placement support.
• High School to High Wage Program A software training program for high school students ages 15-17 providing introduction to computer programming through fundamental and advanced classes covering HTML/CSS/JavaScript, web development, video game programming, and Internet of Things.
• Teacher Academy A professional development program for educators that provides training, certification, and curriculum coaching to enable teachers to deliver Operation Spark's coding curriculum in their classrooms.
• Job Hunt Support Post-graduation career assistance included with the Adult Workforce Program, helping students with resume, cover letter, interview skills, and connecting them with the employer network until they secure employment.

Quantifiable outcome

• $67,000 average starting salary for graduates
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers15 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• Hack ReactorcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2015In 2015, partnered with Hack Reactor in San Francisco to develop the adult workforce program, Immersion. Graduated first class in January 2016.
• Tulane University School of Professional Advancement (SoPA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTransfer credit agreement allowing Operation Spark graduates to apply certifications for credit at Tulane's SoPA as well as community and technical colleges throughout Louisiana.
• United Way of Southeast LouisianamajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity partner providing funding, professional and life skills training, and support programs that help students complete training and launch new careers.
• Urban League of LouisianamajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity partner providing funding, financial literacy education, and support programs for students completing high-skills training.
• Louisiana Department of Child and Family ServicesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGovernment partner providing funding and support programs for workforce development.
• Louisiana Department of EducationcoreOthersApproved training provider with the Louisiana Department of Education providing software training programs for high school students, teachers, and adult learners.
• Louisiana Workforce CommissioncoreOthersApproved training provider with the Louisiana Workforce Commission providing in-demand software training programs.
• Mumms SoftwareminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEmployer partner that has hired 6 Operation Spark graduates. CIO Tim Blackmon provides testimonial praising graduates' real-world experience.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Emerging players

• Code.org: Nonprofit focused on expanding computer science access in K-12 schools. Comparable in mission to expand CS education to underrepresented youth; Operation Spark's High School program competes for similar school-district partnerships and teacher-training mindshare.

Direct peers

• Year Up: National workforce development nonprofit providing young adults with training, internships, and corporate placements in tech and business. Comparable in nonprofit mission, workforce development focus, employer partnership model, and target demographic of opportunity youth.
• Galvanize: Tech education provider offering immersive software engineering bootcamps and data science programs. Directly comparable in bootcamp model, target demographic of career changers, and job placement services.
• General Assembly: Global coding bootcamp and workforce training provider offering full-stack web development immersives. Directly comparable in bootcamp model, target demographic of career changers, and job placement services.
• App Academy: Full-stack web development bootcamp offering intensive software engineering programs with deferred tuition / ISA options. Directly comparable in immersive JavaScript/full-stack curriculum and career-change focus.
• Hack Reactor: For-profit coding bootcamp offering full-stack JavaScript immersive programs. Hack Reactor is directly comparable: Operation Spark's adult Immersion curriculum was actually co-developed with Hack Reactor in 2015, and both programs share the JavaScript/full-stack pedagogical approach.
• Flatiron School: Full-stack software engineering bootcamp offering immersive career-change programs. Directly comparable in target audience (adult career switchers), curriculum (full-stack web development), and outcome-based job placement model. Alex Aaron, an Operation Spark instructor, is a Flatiron graduate, illustrating cross-program overlap.
• Per Scholas: Nonprofit tech training provider offering free IT and software training to underrepresented adults with job placement support. Most directly comparable nonprofit peer — same mission (diversity in tech, accessible pathways), similar tuition-free/subsidized model, and employer-aligned curriculum.
• NPower: Nonprofit tech training organization offering free IT and cybersecurity training to veterans and underserved young adults. Comparable nonprofit tech training peer serving similar demographics with employer-aligned curriculum.

Broad incumbents

• Coursera: Large online learning platform offering software engineering bootcamp-style programs from universities and industry partners. Comparable as a broader incumbent in the technical reskilling space, though lacks the in-person, mission-driven, employer-placement model.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/operation-spark

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Operation Spark