Jacob Hess

Yo, peep this story about Jacob Hess, this guy is the real deal. Dude’s a vet, served in the US Air Force, where he was a tech and network guy, mentoring future pros and really understanding what it takes to build stuff from the ground up. He’s got that military grind, discipline, and a knack for tech, which he’s turned into something even bigger.

After his time in the Air Force, Jacob jumped into the civilian world, stacking up some serious experience. He’s worked as a systems engineer at TekLinks, where he nailed network solutions, and he was COO at CheckAction, leading ops and helping the company grow. But what really stands out is his move into education, he’s all about making tech skills accessible and practical.

That’s where NEXGENT comes in. He’s the co-founder and Chief Academic Officer there, backed by Y Combinator in W18, yeah, one of the most competitive startup accelerators out there. This isn’t just some side hustle, NEXGENT is all about smashing the gap between traditional education and what the industry actually needs. Jacob’s the guy crafting the curriculum, making sure students aren’t just getting degrees but are job-ready, ready to crush it in real-world IT roles.

What does this all say about him? Jacob’s deeply motivated by a simple but huge goal: making tech careers accessible and leveling up the game for the next-gen workforce. His process from military tech trainer to startup founder shows he’s not afraid to jump into the deep end, take risks, and build something meaningful. It’s like he saw the flaws in the system, and instead of complaining, he rolled up his sleeves and fixed it himself.

He’s a guy who’s always been about innovation and high-performance teams. Whether in the military, in the startup world, or in his educational pursuits, he’s driven by a desire to enable others with the skills they need to succeed. That’s why he’s so important, he’s not just building companies, he’s building futures.

So yeah, Jacob Hess isn’t just some tech guy. He’s a veteran, a builder, a mentor, and a disruptor who’s out here changing the game for tech education and workforce development. No cap.