We Started Small, Stayed Focused
Back in 2019, we set up a database training program because companies kept telling us they couldn't find qualified people. We didn't want to build the biggest education platform. We just wanted to teach what actually works in production environments.
Operating since 2019How We Got Here
The Beginning
2019Started in a small office in Taipei with three instructors and a straightforward idea—teach database administration the way it's actually done in real companies. No fluff, no theory-heavy courses that nobody uses. Our first cohort had twelve students, and honestly? We learned as much from them as they did from us.
Finding Our Voice
2021By this point we'd trained about 80 people. Companies started calling us directly asking for graduates. That's when we realized we were onto something—not because we were revolutionary, but because we kept things practical. We added evening classes for working professionals who wanted to switch careers without quitting their jobs.
Expanding Thoughtfully
2023We moved to a bigger space and brought in instructors who'd worked at major tech companies across Asia. Instead of creating dozens of courses, we refined what we already had. Our philosophy hasn't changed—teach fewer things better. We also started recording sessions so students could review complex concepts at their own pace.
Looking Forward
2025 and BeyondRight now we're working on advanced specialty tracks for experienced DBAs who want to go deeper. We're planning a program focused on cloud database architectures starting autumn 2025. But we're not rushing it—we'd rather take our time and get it right than launch something half-baked.
What Matters to Us
We care about whether our students can actually do the job after they finish. That means hands-on labs with real database systems, not simulations. It means instructors who've debugged production issues at 3am and can share those stories.
The Taiwan tech scene moves fast. We keep our curriculum current by staying in touch with local companies and adjusting based on what they're actually using. PostgreSQL, MySQL, MongoDB—we teach what people need today, not what was popular five years ago.
Our most successful students aren't necessarily the ones with computer science degrees. They're the ones who show up consistently and aren't afraid to break things in the lab environment.
Willem Kretschmer
Lead Database InstructorWillem's been working with databases since before it was cool—about fifteen years now. He spent most of his career managing data systems for e-commerce companies in Europe before moving to Taiwan in 2018.
What makes him good at teaching? He's made every mistake you can make with a database, and he's not shy about sharing those stories. Students appreciate that he explains things in plain language instead of hiding behind technical jargon.
When he's not teaching, Willem consults for local businesses dealing with scaling issues. He believes the best instructors stay connected to real-world problems.
Questions People Actually Ask
We get these questions a lot. Here are straightforward answers based on what we've learned over the past six years.
Before You Start
Not necessarily. About half our students come from non-technical roles. You do need basic computer skills and the willingness to learn command-line interfaces. We start with fundamentals and build from there.
Six months if you're attending part-time evening sessions. Full-time intensive format runs three months. Both cover the same material—it's just about what fits your schedule.
Plan for 12-15 hours weekly including class time and practice. Some weeks are heavier when you're working through major projects. Most students keep their day jobs during the program.
During and After
Yeah, we have open lab hours three times a week where instructors are available. There's also a shared chat where students help each other—often the best explanations come from people who just figured something out.
You'll have portfolio projects you can show employers and references from instructors who know your work. We can't promise specific job outcomes, but we stay connected and share relevant opportunities when we hear about them.
Alumni can access our lab facilities and attend advanced workshops. We also run informal meetups every few months where graduates share what they're working on. The community aspect tends to stick around.