Competence that propels careers.
Hands-on knowledge
Speak, think, and build from experience, not theory.
Information, not jargon
Technical concepts presented in plain English, never over your head.
Support throughout
Live office hours with our instructors, and interactive help in your terminal for sticking points.
“I'm now building products on my own.”
“When I started this curriculum, I'd never used Claude before. So I was probably at zero, and I'd say I'm at 90.”
Ashlee, Toronto
Welcome, glad you're with us.
Course format.
- Unit 0 · SetupGet everything installed, and prepare for glory.
- Unit 1 · FoundationNavigate with your terminal, and understand foundational concepts.
- Unit 2 · ShipSafely ship full-stack applications, live on the internet.
- Unit 3 · AutomateCompress your processes with automations, deepen your projects through integrations with other tools.
- Unit 4 · CapstoneGraduation exercise, requiring both your new skills and creativity.
- BeyondExpanding content after Unit 4 on organizational adoption, context management, advanced automations, and deep dives from the Onward Academy team on new tools and techniques.
What it takes.
Course completion usually takes about 30 hours of effort over six weeks. A few focused hours every week beats a weekend sprint.
A Mac or Windows computer, a Claude Max plan ($100 a month) and $5 to $10 of API credits, both paid to Anthropic.
$110 of course fees refunded upon completion of Unit 4 to offset AI costs.
Support to bring you forward.
Live office hours
Live touchpoint with the instructors. Get live feedback and extra instruction on what you need.
A coach skill in your terminal
Interactive feedback while you build, right inside your project.
Meet your instructors.
Wilson Galyean
Wilson has trained executives and teams at Fortune 10 companies and multibillion-dollar late-stage startups, as well as founders, special operations veterans, and even a preschool staff. He focuses on making AI concepts accessible and familiar for business-side teams that want to go further and faster.
He has over a decade of experience in the technology industry, working mostly in back-end product management. Wilson served as a US Army officer for five years. He holds a bachelor's degree from the United States Military Academy at West Point and an MBA from the University of California, San Diego.
He lives in San Diego.
Ryan Basford
Ryan has trained Naval Postgraduate School students, Naval Special Warfare operators, teams at small and medium-sized businesses, and professionals outside technical fields. He built the course platform with Wilson and helps people develop practical wisdom through building software that solves real problems.
His 14-year career spans the US Navy and technology. After seven years as a Surface Warfare Officer, he helped build startups and launch products in regulated industries. Most recently, he led product for a Defense Department AI platform at the Naval Postgraduate School Foundation. He holds an economics degree from the Naval Academy, where he played football.
He lives in Santa Cruz.
Questions.
Do I need to know how to code?
No. We build your technical fluency no matter where you start from.
How long is the course?
Expect to spend about 30 hours to complete all exercises.
When do I start?
You can start on your own and attend up to 12 office hours sessions as needed.
What do I need?
A Mac or Windows computer, a Claude Max plan ($100 a month) and purchased API credits ($5 to $10), both paid to Anthropic. Full course completion (Unit 4) earns you a $110 refund to offset those costs.
What is the refund policy?
Full refunds are available for one week after purchasing a seat. Please email hello@onwardacademy.ai to request a refund.
Who sees my work?
The instructors see your projects. Classmates in your cohort see the projects you submit to the cohort showcase. No one else.
Can my employer pay?
Yes. After you join the waitlist, your price page has a request you can send your manager, and we can invoice your company.