SV Academy

When I enrolled. I was skeptical. Not one negative review to be found. But I took the leap, and I learned quickly why everyone is so positive about this experience...because it is AMAZING and a very positive learning experience overall!!!!!! I learned so much, met so many wonderful people, and really enjoyed and benefitted from coaching and mentorship especially. It is true that only 2% of applicants are accepted, so if you are one of those chosen few, I would certainly say jump on it and see where this journey can take you! Proud alum of SDR58. Thanks SV Academy, you guys are awesome!

I was looking to start a new career after leaving my last one. I saw an ad for SV Academy on Facebook and thought it sounded too good to be true. I did a little research before applying and it seemed to be like a legitimate opportunity. I figured "why the heck not" and applied. I knew the acceptance rate was very low and wasn't sure if I would get in or not. When they contacted me, I was excited to try out the first week without any risk. The program is fairly rigorous so don't apply if you aren't ready to work around the clock for a few weeks. But if you put in the work, the fellowship will support you every step of the way. I can't even find the right words to express how much support you get from the people involved with this program. You will learn highly valuable job skills and be ready to knock an interviewer's socks off before you even finish the program. Today is my last day and I already have multiple interviews with some amazing tech companies. The best part is, I KNOW I'm going to get job offer from at least one of them, and EVEN BETTER is the fact that I know I'm going to be ready to rock and roll on Day 1. SV Academy will change your life if you're willing to put in the work. 

I had no idea what to expect coming into this program. I have zero background in tech and wasn't sure the tech world was even somewhere I belonged. This program taught me everything I needed in order to build a lasting career. They take a holistic approach so that not only do you understand the specifics of the role, but how you as the individual can be the best version of yourself. This is a community you won't find anywhere else, this team wants you to succeed. I have never found such a beautiful community committed to its members. If you have any interest at all just go for it! You won't regret it. 

 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!

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!