From Olympic Rowing to Coding: How kood/Jõhvi is Shaping the Future of Tech Talent

2024 was a game-changing year for kood/Jõhvi. More students, more graduates, and more career-changing success stories. In the latest kood/Cast episode, CEO Lauri Haav, Olympic athlete-turned-product manager Jüri-Mikk Udam, and alumni Annika & Ekke dive into how peer learning is reshaping tech education and what’s coming next.

kood/Jõhvi’s Big Year

✅ 300 new students joined – 30% more than last year.
✅ The first kood/Sisu school in Finland launched.
✅ 178 graduates – as many as all Estonia’s vocational schools combined.

But here’s the real impact: we’re bringing new talent into tech – people who might never have taken this path otherwise.

“We’re not taking students away from universities. We’re attracting those who would never have considered tech before.” – Lauri Haav

From Sports to Software

What does rowing in the Olympics have to do with coding? More than you’d think.

Jüri-Mikk Udam, a Harvard graduate and two-time Olympian, now builds kood/Jõhvi’s peer-to-peer learning platform. He sees a direct link between elite sports and learning to code:

“Rowing teaches teamwork and problem-solving – that’s exactly what our platform is built for.”

At kood/Jõhvi, there are no teachers. Students learn by working together, just like in real tech teams.

Two Students, Two Journeys

👩‍💻 Annika: The Remote Learner
A former hospital worker, Annika switched to coding entirely remotely. The challenge? Self-discipline.

“Motivation comes and goes. The key is consistency – set a plan, build a support network, and push forward.”

🏡 Ekke: The On-Campus Experience
Ekke left university physics studies and moved into the kood/Jõhvi dorms to fully immerse himself.

“In Jõhvi, you’re surrounded by people who push you to grow. That energy is everything.”

The result? He landed a job at Wise before even graduating.

📅 What’s Next in 2025?

📌 kood/Võru opens in September
📌 A new high school program launches
📌 Bachelor’s program with EBS blends coding & business
📌 AI is changing the game, but problem-solving remains king

“You need to learn the notes before you can improvise.” – Lauri Haav

🎧 Listen Now!

This is just a glimpse – hear the full story in the latest kood/Cast episode!

🔗 Watch on YouTube
🎧 Listen on Spotify

Thinking about starting your own tech journey? Take the first step.

🚀 Apply now at study.kood.tech