BREAKING: Gauntlet AI (BloomTech, f/k/a Lambda School) launched Government Training Program, free program to prepare you for government AI/SWE roles.
SOURCE: [https://gfa.gauntletai.com/](https://gfa.gauntletai.com/)
I'm sure this will get a lot of popcorn because BloomTech had some past issues but Gauntlet seems to be a lot clearer on what it does, how it does it, etc... it takes top 2% IQ people, trains them for 80 hours a week for 12 weeks, and gives them $200K job and there aren't really any catches (at this time) and it's free because companies pay hiring fees.
It works because they transparently filter for top 2% IQs, makes sure they have the hustle needed through 80 hour weeks, and there is a huge demand for productive engineers.
They are launching a program to prepare you for government and they have a very transparent explanation for what it is. Four steps, very clear.
Gauntlet people: can you list who your sponsor is or who you are subbing for for transparency? I couldn't find it in government records.
[Codesmith also announced received a $118M Government contract with the IRS](https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/top-ranked-ai-training-company-brings-silicon-valley-excellence-to-washington-codesmith-selected-for-118m-irs-contract-302674440.html). I already posted about this but it's very unclear what exactly Codesmith's doing (whether it's training engineers or training the IRS personnel, or what they are doing exactly). So I'm not sure if these two big programs compete or are complementary. Codesmith is a sub contractor for LANTEC OF LOUISIANA, who received the award alongside SMOOTHSTACK/FEDSTACK.
NOTE: my company runs an interview prep program and we don't compete with Gauntlet directly but just disclosing in transparency. I'm just presenting news and updates about bootcamps as an individual! Let me know if you have questions or concerns. Since my company works with SWEs for job hunting our customers might be either or both of these programs as well.
u/Real-Set-1210 wrote (the comment Michael replied to):
Uhhhh bootcamp grads don't get swe jobs
u/michaelnovatireplied·
This is an exception because it doesn't explicitly require SWE experience or not, but instead is asking for super high IQ people (top 2%) who work 80+ hours a week to survive the 'guantlet'. I think that selects for a group of people likely successful at many different jobs.
u/dialsoapbox wrote (the comment Michael replied to):
> Minimum years of experience required?
> 3 years.
Doesn't explain experience with what.
u/michaelnovatireplied·
They change the the YOE per cohort, and I believe that is for Cohort 4.
u/hustle4success wrote (the comment Michael replied to):
I would love to see/hear from a few anonymously named folks - in a few months to a year or so - what the initial (Mensa style?) IQ test is like for vetting, question-wise? As well as what the program's curriculum is like?
I'm sure there's got to be an employment lock-in period,
u/michaelnovatireplied·
I believe it was CCAT in the past at least. Its a cognitivie ability test targeting top 2% of people.
u/BunnyTiger23 wrote (the comment Michael replied to):
The photo says 100 hours per week not 80. I may not be top 2% of IQ but I’m not an idiot that will work for free for 100 hours a week. Is that portion paid? Or am I missing something?
u/michaelnovatireplied·
\- I will edit to correct for 100 hours.
\- the training portion is not paid as far as my understanding, but it doesn't cost you anything like this kind of training normally would.
u/BunnyTiger23 wrote (the comment Michael replied to):
Working 100 hours for free though is insanity. How can anyone afford to pay rent or living expenses? This gives people no time to even work a part time job.
u/michaelnovatireplied·
Nothing in life is free and in some ways that's a cost you pay to get that non-scam guarantee at the end.
I can't say that that's something I would do, but I've definitely a valid option for some people if they're transparently aware of the costs and choose to do it because it's the right thing for them.
u/michaelnovati wrote (the comment Michael replied to):
SOURCE: https://gfa.gauntletai.com/
I'm sure this will get a lot of popcorn because BloomTech had some past issues but Gauntlet seems to be a lot clearer on what it does, how it does it, etc... it takes top 2% IQ people, trains them for 100 hours a week for 12 weeks, and gives t
u/michaelnovatireplied·
Follow up on this but Gauntlet's first wave of 10 or so grads are headed to DC which is cool to see the program work so quickly.
u/Cheap_Development337 wrote (the comment Michael replied to):
The program doesn't actually guarantee jobs, like they claim to do, I know multiple people that haven't gotten a role from them and are very angry that they haven't gotten a job from them yet.
u/michaelnovatireplied·
Just to confirm you are talking about Gauntlet and not BloomTech/Lambda School right?
And regarding Gauntlet, my understanding in the past was that they said they will hire you AT GAUNTLET if you don't get a job and pay you $200K, so that they can truly guarantee it.
Do you know the circumstances of the people who didn't get jobs: was it a technicality, a thing like a criminal record, no hiring partners wanted them, they got jobs and then lost them?
u/Cheap_Development337 wrote (the comment Michael replied to):
Yes Gauntlet AI, they did not have a criminal record, and some were barely even offered interviews. Multiple people in cohort 2 ,3 and 4 did not get jobs. They only prioritize people with very high amounts of experience and essentially tell everyone else to kick rocks.
u/michaelnovatireplied·
Ok more clarification, did they FINISH Gauntlet? One of the things I heard was that say 25% of people drop during the report period and another 25% drop something in person.
So did they finish the program?
And if they did and they did everything right, then why the heck would Austen market it as a $200K guaranteed job after all the lawsuits with Lambda School.
u/Cheap_Development337 wrote (the comment Michael replied to):
Yes they did finish the program and even sent me multiple instances of proof at the graduation. I don't know why Austen would do that, people can ask the same of why he did it for lambda and bloom tech.
u/michaelnovatireplied·
Wow, well my DMs are always open to hear about the other side, I can also ask Austen about it. I don't know him well but I have no qualm calling out programs that are mis-representing publicly, but I need irrefutable proof like I have with Codesmith.
u/Cheap_Development337 wrote (the comment Michael replied to):
I can try to obtain documentation if needed, though I’m not sure it will lead to any meaningful outcome. Many graduates still hold on to the expectation that Austen will eventually follow through, but based on the pattern so far, that seems unlikely.
u/michaelnovatireplied·
I'm actually shocked because I bought into the marketing that they had so many hiring partners they had to send people away because the students were so much in demand.
I have a feeling though since the engineers pay $0 and get all this stuff for free, that it would be hard to prove damages. Maybe if you quit your job and couldn't get it back because of the promise. Harder to put concrete numbers on but the numbers are far larger than tuition of a program.
u/Cheap_Development337 wrote (the comment Michael replied to):
I can try to obtain documentation if needed, though I’m not sure it will lead to any meaningful outcome. Many graduates still hold on to the expectation that Austen will eventually follow through, but based on the pattern so far, that seems unlikely.
u/michaelnovatireplied·
I'm trying to find on the record documents that still say they guarantee a $200K job and it feels like it vanished. Maybe that was for cohort 1 and they dropped it?
u/Cheap_Development337 wrote (the comment Michael replied to):
Gauntlet receives a high volume of applications; however, a significant portion of these appear to come from individuals on H‑1B or student visas, or from those primarily seeking employment sponsorship. When considering only applicants who fully meet the stated eligibility criter
u/michaelnovatireplied·
Wow alright I'm digging a bit, this sounds crazy in a not good way.