Today we’d like to introduce you to Marcelo Ricigliano.
Hi Marcelo, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
Marcelo Ricigliano
Marcelo Ricigliano is CEO and Co-Founder of 4Geeks Academy, a coding bootcamp founded in 2015 that has trained over 6,000 graduates. Venezuelan lawyer who graduated from Andrés Bello Catholic University and earned two Master’s degrees in Sweden, including an LL.M from Stockholm University.
Started founding tech startups in 2010 with Vikua, a Smart Cities-oriented company. Co-founded 4Geeks Academy with Alejandro Sanchez, best friends since high school.
4Geeks Academy operates main campuses in the USA, Spain, Mexico, and Chile. The company maintains an 84% job placement rate within 6 months of graduation and partners with over 5,000 hiring companies, including Microsoft, TikTok, and Kaseya. Graduates achieve a median salary of $56,000, representing a 41% increase from previous earnings.
Forbes named 4Geeks Academy the best bootcamp for students on a budget in 2025, and Newsweek recognized it as a top 10 coding bootcamp in the United States. The institution is licensed by the USA Department of Education in Florida.
Ricigliano partnered with United Way Miami to expand access to underrepresented communities through a multi-million dollar donation from Mackenzie Scott.
Beyond tech education, Ricigliano owns and operates Piccolinos Haircuts, an Orlando-based children’s salon, achieving 35% year-over-year growth. His success with Piccolinos demonstrates his ability to scale businesses across different industries, from service-based retail to technology education.
Based in Miami, Florida, Ricigliano leads Latin American expansion efforts across Mexico and Puerto Rico. Despite not being a software developer himself, he focuses on democratizing access to technology education and building sustainable tech talent pipelines across the Americas.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
The journey has been anything but smooth. Everything at 4Geeks Academy has been bootstrapped and built with their own hands and brains—no venture capital, no shortcuts. Every campus, every partnership, and every graduate represents years of grinding through challenges, learning from failures, and reinvesting every dollar back into the mission.
As you know, we’re big fans of 4Geeks and Piccolinos (Orlando). For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about the brand?
4Geeks Academy is a globally recognized coding bootcamp with over 6,000 graduates an Miami Coding Bootcamp, Madrid España, Santiago de Chile · 4Geeks Academy +2d 7+ campuses across the USA, Spain, Portugal, Germany, Chile, and Venezuela, licensed by the Florida Department of Education and recognized by Forbes as both a top 5 coding school and the best bootcamp for students on a budget in 2024. The academy specializes in part-time programs that allow students to learn without quitting their jobs, offering comprehensive training in full-stack development, data science, and AI/machine learning with an innovative AI-integrated curriculum that includes cutting-edge “Vibe Coding” techniques. 4Geeks Academy4Geeks Academy What sets 4Geeks apart is their commitment to lifelong support, providing unlimited 1:1 mentorship and career coaching not just during the program but for life, with an impressive 84% job placement rate within 6 months of graduation and access to a network of over 5,000 hiring partners. 4Geeks Academy4Geeks Academy The academy makes tech education accessible through flexible financing options with payment plans starting under $299 per month, scholarships, and a job guarantee program, while fostering a strong global community of students, alumni, mentors, and instructors who provide 24/7 support through live classes, interactive exercises, and collaborative learning environments both online and in-person.
Piccolinos Haircuts is a well-established children’s hair salon that has been serving families in our community with quality haircuts and a kid-friendly atmosphere. We’ve built a loyal customer base and have created a space where children feel comfortable and parents trust us with their little ones’ styling needs.
Risk taking is a topic that people have widely differing views on – we’d love to hear your thoughts.
I’m the risky type of person. In the way that risk is not ever a wonder or a question when making a business decision. Kind of not thinking or balancing the risk when making the decision
Contact Info:
- Website: www.4geeksacademy.com and https://www.piccolinoshaircuts.com/
- Instagram: @4geeksacademy @piccolinoshaircuts
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marcelo-ricigliano-32440379/
Image Credits
they are all ours
