E[nstitute] Provides Hands-On Alternative to College

“If you want to be the best, you have to learn from the best.” E[nstitute], a 2-year apprenticeship program that provides an alternative to college, was founded on this idea.

Kane Sarhan (L) and Shaila Ittycheria, co-founders of a new two-year apprenticeship program.

NEW YORK—“If you want to be the best, you have to learn from the best.”

E[nstitute], a 2-year apprenticeship program that provides an alternative to college, was founded on this idea.

In August, 15 young adults will begin a fellowship with entrepreneurs in the rapidly growing New York City tech scene. The ratio: one fellow to one entrepreneur. 

Co-founders Kane Sarhan and Shaila Ittycheria spoke with The Epoch Times about the new program.

Alternative to College

“We realized that for us and a lot of our peers, the college method and the traditional university method was very overprescribed.” said Sarhan. “A lot of kids are coming out of university with no marketable skills and really no ability to enter the workforce and provide value.”

In case anyone has misconceptions, the two aren’t against education. Sarhan earned a B.A. in international affairs at Pace University. Ittycheria graduated from Arizona State University, and later earned an MBA at Harvard Business School. 

“It’s not that we’re saying, ’skip college.‘ We’re just saying there are better, perhaps alternative paths,” said Ittycheria. “We’re not saying that you don’t need to learn. We’re just saying, ’let’s make that learning more contextual.'”