Smoothstack Inc

Smoothstack Inc., located in McLean, Virginia, has transformed IT recruitment using its pioneering hire-train-deploy (HTD) model. This model nurtures new talent and provides extensive consulting and project support across Application Development, Cloud, Digital Platforms, Data Engineering and AI, and Cybersecurity. Serving an elite clientele including Fortune 500 companies and federal agencies, the company has successfully deployed skilled IT professionals to over 46 federal agencies and corporate giants such as Verizon, Morgan Stanley, Accenture, Bloomberg, and Intel. To enhance its capabilities, Smoothstack maintains strategic partnerships with leading technology providers like AWS, Databricks, ServiceNow, and Salesforce. These partnerships enable the company to effectively tackle complex IT challenges and deliver innovative, tailored solutions that meet the evolving needs of its clients. Unlike traditional recruitment methods, Smoothstack has implemented a modern apprenticeship approach that utilizes AI and data science. This approach creates merit-based pathways for diverse, exceptional talent to enter the IT industry. The process begins by recruiting software engineers at the onset of their careers and guiding them through a proprietary training regimen known as Mirrored Environment Immersion. This immersive training precisely replicates the tech environments of its clients, ensuring that candidates are thoroughly prepared. After an intensive eight to twelve-week training period, these professionals are deployed to client sites for at least two years. During this deployment phase, Smoothstack Inc. is responsible for all employment-related aspects, including vetting, hiring, benefits administration, and payroll management. This comprehensive management allows clients to seamlessly integrate new IT professionals into their operations without the typical logistical burdens associated with training and onboarding new staff. Founded in 2018 by John Akkara, Boris Kuiper, and Prasanth Ram, Smoothstack addresses the critical shortage of skilled IT professionals. Leveraging their extensive IT consulting and strategic operations backgrounds, the founders developed the HTD model as a scalable solution to this industry-wide challenge. Smoothstack is committed to professional education and promoting diversity within the IT sector. The American Council on Education has endorsed several of the company's training programs for college credit, thereby enhancing the educational value of their apprenticeship. The company also boasts a workforce comprising 58% women and minorities, significantly exceeding the industry average. Through these strategic initiatives, Smoothstack Inc. not only addresses the immediate staffing needs of its clients but also fosters a more inclusive and skilled IT workforce, setting new benchmarks for excellence in the industry.