Sabio

What they do

Sabio is a vocational school offering 13-week full-time coding boot camps in Los Angeles, Orange County, and online.

Sabio’s typical thirteen-week, 530-hour program consists of instructor-led pre-work to ensure students have the base levels skills necessary to complete the program, an intensive boot camp, and resume building and mock interviews.

At the end of the thirteen weeks, students receive a certification of completion and gain the knowledge and education necessary to pursue careers in the information systems and technology sector. Sabio supports students with their job search during and after the program, with eighty percent of students finding a job within six months of graduation and reporting a median annual income of $70,000.

The majority of students that attend Sabio’s vocational school are older individuals who are looking for a change in careers.

Why we invested

Sabio was founded by Liliana Monge and Gregorio Rojas in 2013, driven by their passion for getting people of color and other underrepresented workers the tools necessary to start careers in tech.

With extensive experience in marketing and economic development, Liliana saw what communities needed most are high-quality, well-paying jobs. Gregorio’s prior experience in web development allowed him to see the need for a diverse and high-quality pool of applicants in tech.

To carry out their mission, Sabio explored several sources of funding to cover upfront costs. Unfortunately, all the sources they explored carry interest rates of above ten percent. Liliana and Gregorio sought a funding relationship with a mission-aligned partner to support Sabio’s growth.

Offering skills training for the 21st century with high job placement rates and working from a manifesto that includes a “100% no B.S. policy,” Sabio’s focus on their impact makes the school an ideal partner for Advance, the flagship place-based investment strategy at Mission Driven Finance.

Updates

03/2023 — Sabio exited early, successfully repaying their loan.