iXperience – cutting-edge training in Cape Town

TALI FEINBERG

Pictured:  Aaaron Fuchs interacting with iX students.

 iXperience is a unique “summer school” for top university students from around the world, who take intensive classes on cutting-edge subjects, do internships at companies ranging from Uber to Accenture, and explore Cape Town on excursions and cultural tours.

Fuchs, who was born and bred on a farm near Somerset West, went on to study at Yale and work on Wall Street. But he “wanted to do something creative, in technology and education”, and returned to Cape Town with a vision for iXperience, known as iX. A chance meeting with former poker player Darren Kramer helped make his startup a reality, with Kramer coming on board as an investor and equal partner.

The modern, tech-driven iX campus at the V&A Waterfront, might as well be at any Silicon Valley startup, or Google for that matter. Students type on laptops or engage in group activities in working environments that include desk treadmills, hammock chairs and Astroturf. The cafeteria tables have plug points and the high glass walls mean everyone is connected.

“People are happy when they know they are progressing and developing, and that is what we do here, on a drastic scale,” says Fuchs. The iX website states: “We’ve built the only summer study abroad programme that combines the three most important aspects of career acceleration: intensive learning, hands-on professional experience, and cultural and personal exploration.Our vision is to challenge traditional education not just in South Africa and the United States, but all over the world.”

Students spend eight weeks in the city, doing four weeks of intensive courses such as coding, app development, product management and Wall Street finance.

Fuchs explains that skills such as app development are hardly ever taught in formal settings, which is why this programme is so valuable to its knowledge-hungry students. Instructor Alejandro Castillejo, who teaches a course in iOS, adds that he himself learned these skills through online tutorials, and “a programme like this would have saved me a good three months”.

Students then spend a four-week internship at one of 55 companies, where they offer skills, enthusiasm and hard work. Fuchs adds: “We are always looking for companies to partner with; and these interns always add value. They come with a skills set and work for free, and you’ll be surprised how much they can offer.”

A crucial part of the programme is encouraging students to embrace a balanced lifestyle and learning beyond the classroom. iX organises excursions ranging from shark-cage diving to safaris and students are encouraged to hike, surf, and enjoy the nightlife before and after class.

In addition, there is an intensive cultural programme, including trips to the SA Jewish Museum and Iziko Slave Lodge. This is vital, as it “prepares students for when they meet South Africans during their internships and activities”, explain Thobekile Mbanda, who manages this aspect.  Students can volunteer at children’s homes, animal shelters and in townships, and are encouraged to interact with South Africans beyond the programme.

In addition, five South African students are sponsored to attend iX each year. “We look for those who really show a level of excellence but can’t afford a programme like this,” says Fuchs.

While iX may appear to be a “bubble” for foreigners, it is actually perfectly placed in South Africa, offering life experiences and learning in a multicultural environment. When students observe problems to be solved and meet fellow South Africans, it gives them an opportunity to apply their skills to social and economic solutions.

Solomon Sefarti is Shomrei Shabbos and said it has been easy to be observant while on the programme. He commends the Cape Town Jewish community for being so welcoming to him and other students, and said he would love to bring his family to visit.

Indeed, the programme injects millions of rands into the Cape Town economy, especially in the quieter winter season. Now in its third year, it has over 300 students currently working and playing in the Mother City.

As an entrepreneur who chose to return to South Africa when he could have worked anywhere in the world, Fuchs feels that startups need to be taken more seriously in this country, and that mentorship and investment are sorely needed.

Plans for the future including an iX “university” that teaches futuristic subjects such as artificial intelligence.