Secure Your Spot: The Interchain Developer Academy’s 5th Intake is Now Open for Applications!

A self-paced online training program with expert guidance on the core components of the Interchain Stack

The Interchain Developer Academy is launching the fifth cohort of its comprehensive training program! Once again, the Interchain Foundation is fully funding the program with the goal of attracting experienced web2 devs to the blockchain industry and reinforcing the professional skills and credentials of existing web3 devs. Now is your chance to join them!

800 developers have been through the program in the previous four cohorts, and have reported a 95% approval rate for the Academy. Developers particularly like the practical training aspects and guidance provided by our team of expert tutors, who respond to technical queries throughout the main program and the examination period that follows.

“I would like to congratulate the team behind this because I’m impressed with the quality of the course. It’s magic, if you follow it step by step, you encounter problems, but you also have the tools to confront them, and you learn without even realizing it. I was really busy the first few weeks, but the quality of the material motivated me to finish it anyway. I hope to use this knowledge wisely and represent Interchain well. Really, really impressive work!”

— Juan Carlos Frutos Hernández | Cohort 4 graduate

For a chance to join our graduates and expand your opportunities register for Cohort 5 now!

About the Interchain Developer Academy

The Academy is a 7-week online program, designed by blockchain training experts from our education partner, B9Lab, featuring 80 hours of content. You’ll enjoy self-paced learning with hands-on guidance from our support team, and connect with an engaged community of developers through dedicated Discord channels.

You’ll learn foundational principles of blockchain technology and receive a comprehensive overview of the Interchain Stack. You’ll learn how the interchain differs from other ecosystems and explore ATOM, wallets, and staking. The focus on extended practical coding exercises will strengthen your skills for working on future applications.

The Academy will leave you with a solid understanding of:

• Blockchain technology and main concepts of the Interchain Stack
• Developing with CometBFT, the Cosmos SDK & Ignite CLI
• Using the Inter-Blockchain Communication Protocol to connect chains
• Relaying in the Interchain
• Building front- and backends with CosmJS
• Integrating wallets such as Keplr
• Node operation and validation on Interchain blockchains
• Moving from code to MVP to production and migration

After the main program comes the final exam period, where you have the opportunity to gain official certification from the Interchain Foundation! You’ll join the growing alumni community where you can discuss your own projects, learn about open roles such as those on the B9Lab jobs board, and receive information direct from core contributors to the interchain.

“My experience with the Academy was extremely positive. I loved the content and the instructors. This was the most useful and informative free online web3 course I’ve seen. It allowed me to branch out and explore work in other places in the ecosystem, and it led directly to a full-time job offer at the Interchain Foundation, which I was delighted to accept!”

— Serdar Turkmenafsar, IBC Engineer with Interchain GmbH | Cohort 3 graduate

Join 300 devs on an Interchain journey

Applications are now open for Cohort 5 of the Academy. You’ll first take a screening test to evaluate your knowledge of conventional web2 software development concepts and demonstrate your problem-solving skills. There are no blockchain-related questions in this test — that is provided within the Academy.

The screening test deadline is October 23rd. The main program will run from November 2nd to December 21st. This is followed by a two-week break before the new year, with the final examination period taking place between January 4th and February 1st.

Cohort 5 has 300 seats available on a first-come-first-served basis to those who pass the screening test, and historically seats fill up fast, so don’t delay!

Visit academy.interchain.io to find out more about the application and screening process.

“Even before the Academy was finished it was already delivering great value. I participated in my first Code4rena auditing contest and took 3rd place with some nice prize money! The Academy was instrumental to help me quickly gain enough knowledge to know where and what to look for in a project within the interchain ecosystem.”

— Peppe Landolfi | Cohort 4 graduate

Why learn the Interchain Stack?

The interchain ecosystem hosts independent, interoperable, application-specific blockchains, built using modular components from the developer-friendly Cosmos SDK, and connected with the ground-breaking Inter-Blockchain Communication Protocol (IBC).

Using the Interchain Stack, you can build entirely autonomous dApps that can easily be interconnected with both web2 and web3 systems. You can also rely on a product stack that is well-maintained and continuously updated, plus a community that is large, active, and supportive.

The scale of the interchain has significant implications for blockchain technology. There are currently over 100 appchains built with the Interchain Stack and hundreds of dApps and services built on them. The demand for developers in the interchain will continue to rise.

Is the Academy right for you?

You don’t need to be familiar with blockchain coding to join the Academy, but you should have a minimum of three years of professional programming experience. You should also be willing and able to commit to the estimated 10+ hours of work per week to complete the seven-week program. The program offers a suggested structure for learning but is designed to allow you some flexibility in your approach.

The Interchain Developer Academy targets devs who are motivated by the potential of blockchain technology and are serious about launching (or boosting) their web3 career.

If that sounds like you, then apply now and get ready to prove yourself!

What do developers think about the Academy?

“I have been working in this field for more than 5 years (at KalpaTech validator) and I can say that the IDA helped me to understand the SDK and the IBC module in more depth. The academy triggered me to search for an opportunity as a GO developer in this ecosystem. Overall, I highly recommend this academy. Thank you! Keep up the good work!”

— Aurel Simion | Cohort 4 graduate

“I love the exercise and final exam. Thank you guys for the academy.”

— Nam Le | Cohort 4 graduate

“Thank you for organizing this course. It provides a very solid foundation for learning and contributing to the interchain ecosystem. I learned a lot, especially the core concepts, it was very productive. Despite my other commitments and time constraints, I was able to make it through because the course material was both interesting and well-organized. The exercises were engaging and challenging, marking a new chapter in my extensive software engineering journey.”

— Ali Karim | Cohort 4 graduate

“It was great. Learned a lot and not too difficult.”

— Walter Cavinaw | Cohort 4 graduate

“Great introduction to the Interchain technology stack, one which I’ve been a fan of for a long time but never had the opportunity to learn in depth. Eager to put the skills to use. Thank you very much for the course!”

— Ryan Collette | Cohort 4 graduate

“It was a great experience, looking forward to learn more in future.”

— Sourabh Thakurz | Cohort 4 graduate

“Really nice experience. I really liked the course also because I never used Go and Typescript so I faced those two new languages. In addition I mastered Docker.”

— Antonio Marrazzo | Cohort 4 graduate

“It is an excellent resource and great what you have put in.”

— Govinda Attal | Cohort 4 graduate

“It is a great learning experience, the whole content and final exam are well-designed, and the technical support is also great. Thanks a lot. You did a great job.”

— Lester Li | Cohort 4 graduate

“Wonderful experience with great support from the team.”

— Gavin Chan | Cohort 4 graduate

About B9Lab

B9Lab have trained over 17,000 people in more than 160 countries about multiple blockchain protocols, and have been tasked by the Interchain Foundation to run the Interchain Developer Academy. They are passionate about technology adoption, getting new developers into web3, and helping blockchain ecosystems to thrive.

Read here to learn more about B9Lab’s work with the Interchain Foundation.