LivingSocial’s experiment with Hungry Academy

The District-based daily deals company has just wrapped up the inaugural installment of a program aimed at training its own engineers and developers.

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LivingSocial's Hungry Academy is a place where students learn to build Web sites and write code. It is in the company's New York Avenue headquarters.

Jeffrey MacMillan / for Capital Business

Nisrang Shah is one of 24 students who has just graduated from the first installment of LivingSocial's new program.

/ Jeffrey MacMillan

A former middle school teacher, Jeff Casimir, left, is Hungry Academy's director.

Jeffrey MacMillan / for Capital Business

If all goes according to plan, the program will produce a fleet of engineers that can be hired en masse with a commitment to work at LivingSocial for at least 18 months. Unlike fresh hires, the academy students are already familiar with the company’s products and culture.

Jeffrey MacMillan / for Capital Business

Chris Maddox and Travis Valentine work on their final project.

Jeffrey MacMillan / for Capital Business

The sketch pictured here is for the Web site project "Donors Choose." This was one of the class's assignments.

Jeffrey MacMillan / for Capital Business

The company declined to disclose the cost-per-student for Hungry Academy but said it likely runs three to four times higher because of training expenses.

Jeffrey MacMillan / for Capital Business

Here, students take a break from their studies by playing a game of ping pong.

Jeffrey MacMillan / for Capital Business

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