Forge
About Us
We are revolutionizing the future of work by creating innovative solutions that bridge the gap between education and the professional world.
Our mission is to empower and connect students with the skills and opportunities they need to thrive in their early careers, while also serving as a strategic partner for companies in building a diverse and exceptional talent pipeline.
Launch Internship Program
160 hours of technical and professional skills training in the areas of software engineering, data science, or digital marketing plus placement in a 9 week internship at a high-growth startup.
Forge Talent Board
Coming Soon! A talent connection tool connecting innovative company partners with Forge program alumni for internship or full-time opportunities.
Serving Students
We serve college students and young alumni who are passionate about pursuing careers in the fields of technology, software engineering, data science, or digital marketing. Our programs provide them with the skills, experience, and opportunities they need to succeed in their early careers.
  • 575
    internship placements over the last 7 years.
  • $4,840
    median take home pay for an internship after paying tuition. Our program is unique in that we enable students to invest in themselves.
  • 95%
    of program alumni would recommend Launch to a friend.
Connecting Companies with Top Talent
We work with a range of organizations, including early-stage startups, high-growth startups, and nonprofits. Our services are particularly valuable for companies without formalized internship programs or large HR departments, as we provide access to a diverse and highly skilled talent pool through our internship placement program and talent connection tool.
  • 200+
    corporate hiring partners in our network.
  • 57%
    of Launch alumni are BIPOC.
  • 9/10
    average intern quality rating from employers.
Our Story
Forge (formerly HackCville) was founded in the summer of 2012 by a group of students at the University of Virginia with a common mission: creating a space for students to learn and gain experience beyond what is possible in a normal classroom.

Back then, the idea was simple: bring smart, go-getter people together and give them the space and skills to build whatever they can dream up. Our unique peer-to-peer learning model quickly became an attractive way for students to learn new skills and meet similarly passionate people in a low-stakes, fun environment.

We now teach the full range of modern, digital skills needed in today's world, such as data science, digital marketing, and software engineering. We also partner with over 200 startups, tech firms, and non-profits to enable students to gain experience with innovative and impactful organizations.

Today, our community of over 2,000 program alumni and community members spans the globe. Wherever you are, you will always have a dedicated community in your corner.

Our Impact
  • 27%
    of our Launch students are first-generation college students.
  • 2,000+
    program alumni and community members in our network across the globe.
  • 53%
    of our Launch program participants are women. Learn more about our Gender Equity initiative.
Our Team
  • Amanda Coombs
    Executive Director
  • Allison Garrett
    Director of Business Development
Our Board of Directors
  • Clare Carr
    VP Marketing, Gable
  • Mary Larkin Douthitt
    UVA 2023, Student Board Member
  • Jason Beverage
    Managing Director Emeritus, Two Sigma
  • Eric Martin
    Director, Galant Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship, UVA McIntire School of Commerce
  • Chip Ransler
    Assistant Professor, UVA McIntire School of Commerce
  • John Feminella
    Executive Leader, Nuvalence