42 Lisboa

What 42 Lisboa does

42 Lisboa is a Portuguese non-profit coding school operating under Associação 101010 Portugal, an Instituição Particular de Solidariedade Social (IPSS) recognized by the Direção Geral da Educação since 4 November 2020. It delivers a free, peer-to-peer, project-based software development curriculum to adults aged 18 and over, with no academic prerequisites, no tuition, and 24/7 physical campus access from its location at Unicorn Factory Lisbon (Av. Infante Dom Henrique 143, Lisbon).

The school's product surface has three layers: the Piscine, a one-month intensive coding bootcamp that serves as the admissions funnel; the Common Core, a 6-to-24-month foundational curriculum covering C, Python, data structures and algorithms, AI fundamentals, concurrent and network programming, Unix administration, and graphics; and 42 Advanced, an up-to-4.5-year specialization track covering cybersecurity, advanced AI/algorithms, game development, mobile and web, advanced Unix/networking, and C++. Pedagogy is proprietary and built around peer evaluation, gamified progression, project-based learning, and the ability for students to exchange to more than 50 global 42 Network campuses.

The business model is donation-funded rather than tuition-funded. Operating costs are covered by corporate sponsors — KPMG, Santander, MEO, the Claude and Sofia Marion Foundation, BA Glass, Casa Relvas, Lead Consulting, and Reformosa, among others — and go-to-market is product-led and community-led: students self-serve through apply.42lisboa.com, attend Check-In events, and progress through Piscine cohorts. The school also operates a GTM bridge to employers via the CTRL+Hire Job Fair. Governance sits with the 22 associated members of Associação 101010 Portugal, including the school's management team and external supporters.

Name

42 Lisboa

Legal name

Associação 101010 Portugal

Website

https://42lisboa.com

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Short description

42 Lisboa is a Portuguese non-profit coding school that delivers free, peer-to-peer, project-based software development education to adults aged 18 and over, funded entirely by corporate sponsors and operated from its Lisbon campus inside Unicorn Factory Lisbon.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Coding Education / Vocational Training

NAICS

Computer Training (611420), Business Schools and Computer and Management Training (6114), All Other Schools and Instruction (61169)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Software Development (Programming, Frameworks, Dev Tools) (EDABAFAA)

Keywords

• Software development education
• Peer-to-peer learning
• Free coding bootcamp
• Project-based curriculum
• Nonprofit coding school

Headquarters

HQ city

Lisbon

HQ country

Portugal

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Educational Services (Free): 42 Lisboa provides free software development education to all students aged 18+. The school is entirely funded through donations from sponsors who share the vision of accessible education. No tuition fees are charged for any part of the curriculum.
2. Corporate Partnerships & Donations: Sponsors including corporations (KPMG, Santander, MEO, and others) provide donations to fund the school's operations and maintain the free education model. The school is operated by Associação 101010 Portugal, an IPSS (Institution of Social Solidarity).

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

42 Lisboa delivers a free, peer-to-peer, project-based software development education to adults aged 18 and above, with no tuition, no academic prerequisites, and 24/7 campus access. The offering centers on three sequenced programs: a 26-day Piscine bootcamp as the admission gateway, a 6-24 month Common Core curriculum producing junior developers, and an up-to-4.5-year 42 Advanced track delivering expert-level specializations in cybersecurity, AI, game development, and web/mobile development. Operations are funded entirely through corporate sponsorships and donations rather than student fees.

Product overview

42 Lisboa offers a free, peer-to-peer software development education with two main programs: the Common Core (6-24 months) as the foundational curriculum to become a junior software developer, and 42 Advanced (up to 4.5 years) for expert-level specialization. The entry point is the Piscine, a month-long intensive coding bootcamp. The school uses a gamified, project-based methodology with no tuition fees, no academic prerequisites, and campus access 24/7.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Common Core A 6 to 24 month foundational curriculum for aspiring junior software developers covering imperative programming in C, object-oriented programming in Python, data structures and algorithms, AI fundamentals, concurrent programming, network programming, Unix administration, and graphics programming, with portfolio building and access to paid internships.
• 42 Advanced An up to 4.5 year advanced specialization program for graduates of the Common Core, offering expert-level tracks in Cybersecurity, Advanced Algorithms and AI, Game Development, Mobile and Web Development, Advanced Unix and Networking, and Object-Oriented Programming in C++, with options to exchange to more than 50 42 Network campuses worldwide and access paid internships.
• Piscine A 26-day full-time intensive coding bootcamp (including weekends) that functions as the entry assessment to 42 Lisboa, where applicants demonstrate their ability to learn and collaborate within the 42 peer-to-peer environment.

Named customers4 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Two partnerships are on record, tiered core and major.

• Unicorn Factory LisboncoreStrategic or Co-development Partner42 Lisboa is physically located within Unicorn Factory Lisbon, a tech innovation hub in Lisbon. This co-location provides students with access to a broader tech ecosystem and positions the school within the startup/innovation community.
• CTRL+Hire Partner CompaniesmajorGTM or Marketing PartnerVarious companies partner with 42 Lisboa through the CTRL+Hire Job Fair to recruit graduates and provide internship opportunities. These GTM partnerships bridge the talent with forward-thinking companies.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Holberton School: Project-based, peer-driven software engineering school with no formal instructors or required diplomas — same alternative pedagogy as 42 Lisboa. Operates globally and targets career changers, making it the closest conceptual peer.
• Wild Code School: European coding bootcamp with immersive software development programs and a similar career-changer target audience. Comparable in scope (intensive bootcamps, project work, job placement).
• ALX Africa: Free, project-based software training from the African Leadership group that mirrors the 42 model: no tuition, peer learning, and corporate sponsor funding. Closest analog in business model and pedagogy.
• Flatiron School: Project-based coding bootcamp offering immersive software engineering programs with strong job outcomes focus. Comparable in immersive bootcamp format and learner profile to 42 Lisboa's Piscine.
• Le Wagon: Global coding bootcamp with a Lisbon campus offering immersive software development and data science programs. Comparable target market (career changers) and curriculum scope, though tuition-based vs. 42 Lisboa's free model.
• App Academy: Coding bootcamp focused on full-stack software engineering with income-share and tuition models. Comparable immersive project-based curriculum and career-changer audience.
• Ironhack: International coding bootcamp with campuses including Lisbon. Targets career changers with project-based curricula in web dev, data, and UX — directly competing for the same Portuguese learner pool.

Emerging players

• freeCodeCamp: Free, self-paced online learning platform for software development with a large global community. Competes for the same entry-level adult learners, especially those who can't afford bootcamps.

Broad incumbents

• General Assembly: Large global provider of coding bootcamps and tech training programs. Overlaps on curriculum topics and target learners but is a tuition-based incumbent with broader corporate training offerings rather than a peer pedagogy specialist.
• Codeacademy: Large-scale online interactive coding education platform. Adjacent in topic and learner base but delivered online rather than via peer-to-peer campus pedagogy.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

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 42 Lisboa