Fellowship

Excellent course! Super friendly and honest people!

Everything in the course that was taught from day one is extremely relevant to the role. I was surprised to see how much has transferred over. My interviewing process was seamless since I already had an understanding of what the Sales development role would be. Before I entered the program I had an initial idea of the the company that I would interview with, so i didn't really get to dive too far into the network that is offered. I loved the idea of having support even after we enter our new roles. I will say, if you know this is what you want to pursue then this is a great fellowship for you to attend. 

SV Academy has been career and life-changing. I signed up for the program back in July 2018 after deciding to change careers. My previous profession was as an auditor for the big four accounting firm PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC), which lasted two years. Though I enjoyed my experience as an auditor, I decided I needed a career change that would allow me to use more of my people skills. Emerged SV Academy, where I went through a three-month business development boot camp, which led to an Enterprise Business Development Representative role at SurveyMonkey in October 2018. I was a BDR for one year and three months before being promoted to an SMB Account Executive and eventually a Mid-Market Account Executive. As of November 2021, I'm working as an Account Executive for Pilot.com, a company providing financial back-office services. My new venture will enable me to leverage my accounting skills from PwC and sales skills gained through my experience at SV Academy and SurveyMonkey. For this reason, SV Academy has been career and life-changing. 

I quite literally stumbled upon SV Academy. I was in my very last month of Pharmacy School, and I knew I wanted to pivot into the tech space, but I just did not know how. This program is well run, has amazing program managers, easy access to the CEO, and priceless information that puts you ahead of your competition. Furthermore, your interview committee really goes to bat for you when it comes to getting you hired and prepping you for interviews.

Before I went through SV Academy, I wasn't fully aware of the opportunity available in tech. The SDR model is a relatively new phenomenon, and the SaaS industry has tremendous potential for growth, but the main way to get a job as an SDR was through referral and networking. My social network was nonexistent, so without SV Academy, the prospect of me getting a job as an SDR was extremely slim.The structure of SV Academy is set up so no one will be disappointed. If you go through the course and still can't get a job after 6 months, you owe nothing for tuition. That part of the deal really minimizes the risk. This program is great for a motivated go-getter. The kind of person who would do best in this role is someone who is fearless when it comes to meeting new people, learning new skills, and receiving critical feedback.The job search and the core SDR job both have a lot in common. You deal with a lot of rejection, and they put you through the wringer. So I would encourage anyone who feels under pressure not to give up but learn and do better. When I finally got my job, my recruiter and manager said they chose me for the pattern he saw in me and other SV Academy graduates and for the confidence they saw in me. They chose to hire me not for my previous experience, but for my networking skills.

I applied to the course on a whim, without knowing what it was going to do for my life. Fast-forward 2 years: I'm making the most money I've ever made (now over 6 figures), absolutely love my company, have been promoted several times, and feel extremely confident in the work I do.I was in the lucky Cohort 29 that finished the course in Feb '20-right as the pandemic hit the states. This definitely threw off many of my peers in their search for a job; however, I was lucky enough to land a job with an incredible company as an SDR! I also had received another job offer and was actively interviewing with two other companies. I think the main thing SVA did was set me up for success with interviews and understanding how to pick a solid company and team.The training was intense and definitely unlike anything I had done before. I felt adequately prepared after leaving the course as to what my job was to be. This area could definitely be improved (and it probably has been) as the actual sales calls we made weren't super helpful and I would have liked more hands-on prospecting. Overall, the training was a quick and dirty entry into sales. The most impactful part of the course was networking with my colleagues. The people who get accepted to this program are the top-of-the-class, group-leaders, and forward-thinking individuals you try to keep up with! I still remain in contact with many of my peers and my mentor (several I got to meet IRL).Seriously, apply. It's an opportunity of a lifetime.

Suppose you're anything like me scouring Course Report to see if this program is legit. I'm telling you right now this is the best decision you can make for future you. I thoroughly enjoyed my experience at SV Academy. It's a well-run program from top to bottom. SV Academy sets you up with tools to break into the tech industry. I was able to land a job and had a tremendous response rate and multiple offers from companies. So take that chance, and I'll see you on the other side! 

Hands down the best career decision I've made this far! SV Academy is overall a fantastic community to be involved in. I really enjoyed the 8-week program where I felt included and welcomed from day 1. The live and interactive internship included in the program with a real tech company is definitely a win-win. I would recommend SV Academy to anyone who wants a new career change and to get their foot in the door for a fulfilling path in the tech industry. The mentors and instructors are extremely helpful and consistent in their connection with you. The list of employer partners SV is partnered with is super exciting. Many of them are willing to pay the majority, if not all, of your tuition when you land your first role. Five stars!! :)

 I know what you’re thinking. Is this a SCAM??? I thought so too, believe me. Just to clarify, this is NOT A SCAM!!!I was so apprehensive about joining the program even after being in the 2% of applicants that actually got accepted. That statistic alone should shed light on the course’s legitimacy. Also, this is my testimony. If you want to break into tech go to SV Academy. CAUTION: they say this course is 40 hours a week. I will be honest. This course is more like 60-70 hours of rigorous coursework per week (and weekends if you aren’t time managed). Work that will make even the best of us break down and cry, crumble, pick ourselves back up and crumble again. You are transforming yourself, remember that. It’s all part of the process. But it will be worth the investment in yourself if you make it to completion. Nothing will feel more rewarding. PRO TIP: You get out what you put in. TRUST ME. And if you put the work in, you will make it to completion. WARNING: Don’t try to carry a job while doing this course. You will fail. Don’t try to fit this course around your schedule. You will fail. Don’t push everything to the last minute because you will get extremely overwhelmed. And you will fail. Also, if you are still skeptical like I was, just take the course and give it everything you got for the first week. It’s FREE!!!You do not sign your deferred tuition agreement for the $10k until the beginning of week 2. Week 1 is meant to be the hardest part of the course. They are weeding you out to see who really wants this. And you will see at the beginning of week 2, if you make it that far, that half your group is missing. They chickened out. And didn’t believe in themselves. BELIEVE IN YOURSELF. If you can make it past week 1 and decide you want to continue and put the work in, you WILL succeed. SV Academy will consume you so be ready to give up your life for this for the next foreseeable 4-weeks. Also, don’t take the part-time course. You are delaying your future by a month and might get burnt out in the process. It also takes a month on average to land a job so don’t put yourself off from doing the full-time option. Quit your job and buckle down. You will thank me later. Hope this review helps at least one person who was in my shoes a month ago. PROS: The network you will create. Keep your cohort mates close. These will be your friends and colleagues for the rest of your career. It’s a great support system to start with especially if you have no idea how to navigate this industry on your own. Also, if you are on the East Coast, you will have an additional 3 hours to submit your assignments because SV works on PST. That also means class starts at 12 noon, so you can still sleep in a bit. CONS: 40 hours of course per week is inaccurate. This is 60-70 hours of rigorous coursework per week easy. Get a comfy chair because you will be sitting it in all day/night for a month. And maybe even longer if you land a remote role!

The 12 week program that I participated in was extremely helpful in breaking me into a tech job! Additionally, the alumni network is full of like-minded and friendly salespeople that you're able to leave on. 

Pros:MentorshipGuidanceProfessional DevelopmentJob/ Internship adviceCons:More guest speakersCareer Coaching

I was introduced to SV Academy by my niece. I was at that working two jobs, barely making enough money to taking of my family. I was skeptical about the program at first, but I still applied.  During the program, I met many kind-hearted people looking to change their lives with the training from SV Academy and the mentorships from the different career coaches. I have to say, with just one job, I've was able to double my income. I have the confidence to go after my dreams. I am currently working on my project, and I have time for my family and money to take care of their needs. I am so thankful to have been a part of SV Academy. Any who's thinking about joining the SV Academy program. I will say do it and watch your life change for the better. 

Before SV Academy, I was no stranger to sales and marketing, but my previous experience wasn’t translating into interviews with tech startups. All of that changed within a matter of weeks at SV.  I went from wanting to be in tech sales to being flooded with interview requests and multiple job offers from companies I was thrilled to work with before the last day of my fellowship even ended.I wholeheartedly credit my success at landing the position I did to the strength of the program. And I wasn’t alone--it’s been great to witness my peers from SV Academy be fast-tracked to promotion.Tech sales can be a difficult world to access, but SV Academy’s commitment to democratization is serious business. This goes for how their tuition is structured, too: if you don’t get a job, you don’t pay.  There are also partial and full scholarships available from SV’s employer partners, and SV has a history of financing lower credit students off their own bank account, to try and help as many learners as possible. 
Pros:  SV will set you up with the skills you need to thrive in tech sales (cold calls & emails, standard tools in the tech stack, emotional intelligence, interview preparation, and more). SV Academy also offers a year of mentorship from experienced professionals in the field and a highly motivated and diverse network of learners who remain colleagues and friends long after the training has ended.
Cons: Not a con, but SV requires a serious time and energy commitment, even in the part-time program. My teammates and I spent many all-nighters reviewing coursework and working to finish our group projects on time. SV Academy provides instruction and support, but your success is dependent on the effort you invest in the program.

So grateful to have successfully completed over 300 hours of rigorous tech sales training at SV Academy, where I became proficient in utilizing exciting software, such as SalesForce, SalesLoft, LinkedIn Sales Navigator, exceeding quotas, and so much more. I am confident that I now have the knowledge and skills needed to excel in an SDR role, and bring immense value to any sales team!

What an experience! I can't think of a better program to prepare you for your career in sales. SV goes above and beyond through your course and sticks by your side when you're going through the process. A lot of material is covered but they've made it easy for you to access it on your own time. 

Put in the work, you will reap the rewards, and SV Academy will stand by its word on providing a community of support.It’s perfectly reasonable to want to know more about what you’re getting into, so I recommend applying and speaking to one of the admissions team (they’re so friendly!) or reading about the details for yourself.Pros Kick-starting your career in the tech space! I gained cold-outreach skills, learned how to finesse my resume, interview coaching, and an awesome team of colleagues. I made it happen but it was easier and more effective in good company alongside people I could trust.Cons This isn’t a program that most people can complete while holding down a full-time job. It’s 300 hours long and highly competitive. As you might expect, that means it will require your full attention. I’ve seen some wild claims out here in the reviews about the financing side! Frankly, it’s been nagging me and I want to clear up some of the confusion. Some people seem quite confused about how the deferred tuition agreement works. The truth is that while the tuition is $10K, there aren’t any fees other than the $100 deposit (which you get back after completing the program) and there is no interest and you don’t pay unless you land the job. This means that *their success is tied to yours.* In many cases, if you land a job with one of SV Academy’s employer partners then you may be offered a scholarship that can cover up to half the cost of your tuition. I landed my first Tech Sales role with InsideView and was able to cut my loan down by (100%).SV Academy is here with your back every step of the way. They have a great network of people who will always help lift you up when needed + provide support when things get tough. What does support look like? In my case, it meant mentorship, in-program tech sales training, learning how to operate a sales tech stack, emotional intelligence coaching, a reliable and willing peer network, and a whole lot more.I know it can be a little scary at first—I should know, it took me a leap of faith! I had no previous experience in tech sales! But take a deep breath, do your research and decide if you have what it takes to commit to the program. If you can't commit to the program uninterrupted, perhaps consider applying at a time when you can guarantee the time investment.

SV Academy was a game-changer for me and (if you want it to be) it can be one for you too. You might not have any previous experience in tech but that's not an issue here. SV Academy was clear from day 1 that if you had 0 experience you’d be ready to get hired, and I know of many folks who have had sales experience (but not Tech Sales experience) who got promoted in less than a year thanks to the training they gained via SV Academy. In my cohort, one person said that regardless of whether we graduated on level ground ...  we were all a level UP. The community really lifted me up when I first started out and is still a part of my network of friends and colleagues today!I’ve seen some frankly toxic reviews here that just don’t add up in light of the facts, so as someone who’s completed the program and achieved success in their role as a Sales Development Representative for 6 months I feel compelled to set the record straight: SV Academy has gone above and beyond to ensure accessibility. Yes, there is a credit check, but the tuition is fixed at $10K and SV Academy will front the money on behalf of the student with *no fees and no interest.* The rest is paid over the course of your new job if, and *only* if, you land it. If you don’t get a job then you don’t pay and SV takes the hit, ensuring that they are driven to ensure *your* success.If you have further questions about the legitimacy of the program, it’s training or the AMAZING community it provides, I strongly suggest you warm up those tech sales muscles and reach out to graduates on LinkedIn. Many of them will be excited to share their experience with you and you’ll get a taste of some sales rep exercise reaching out and getting in touch.For my own part, I landed a job with Lyra Health and have driven sales growth since I began there in April, and I couldn’t be happier. I went viral on LinkedIn for creating a prospecting video (A skill taught in SV's curriculum) which brought a lot of interest to the company and made me a go to person for video prospecting at my job since it's so new to the industry. I won’t say I couldn’t have done it without SV Academy, but I can say this: it would’ve been much much harder, so I’m VERY glad I did. :)

At first, I was unsure if this would be a good fit for me. Just like you and countless others, I decided to do my research; after the very first week, I realized you don't know what you don't know! I'm honored to be a part of this beautiful opportunity to learn from people in the industry and most importantly; people that sat in the same seat I'm sitting in! This Bootcamp will prepare you to quantum leap your skillset and change your life forever! Enough reading! The best research is RESULTS! I'll see you on the other side! #SVAcademy #SeizingVictory #TheWinningTeam

Overall, this course is very difficult but also very rewarding. If you're really looking to turn your life around and break into tech then this is the school for you. However, that first week they are going to really assess how much you want it. If you don't want it bad enough you won't make the cut and get all your assignments done. However, one of the best parts is the awesome community and the wonderful people you meet there. I've been in tons of college groups that are rather lackluster and devoid of enthusiasm but at SV everyone wants to be there and succeed just as much as you do!

My time at SVA has been very intense. They go through A LOT of information fast. The instructors are always willing to help with any questions or reservations and they are quite knowledgeable. There is a lot of work and it takes time, but it pays off big when looking for your first gig. The interview prep, combined with the different software you need to learn, mush it all together with the internship for a real company; and you have a plethora tools at your fingertips for starting in the Tech industry. Do it.