Direct to Phase II Open Topic: Open Call for Innovative Defense-Related Dual-Purpose Technologies/Solutions with a Clear Air Force Stakeholder Need

Developing innovative mobile technologies is difficult. Experienced mobile developers are difficult to find and hiring vendors can be costly and risky. Many organizations are looking for ways to enable non-technical employees to create and support mobile technologies. Big Nerd Ranch has a track record of success (including at the US Air Force) in enabling experienced programmers to develop mobile apps. Indeed, airmen trained by Big Nerd Ranch were able to deliver an app for a fraction of the $50,000 estimate quoted by an outside vendor. Big Nerd Ranch wants to build on this success and develop a program that can take airmen with no previous programming experience to this level of proficiency through a combination of instructor-led training and on-the-job mentoring. This program will provide the US Air Force with a program through which it can bring non-technical airmen and enable them to meet mission-critical needs, while also increasing their competitiveness in the job market if they return to civilian life. As companies are looking for more efficient ways to develop technical talent internally, having an efficient, proven program at the ready would allow Big Nerd Ranch to effectively sell to other organizations looking to get similar results.