Why did the Adecco acquisition fail?

Adecco's enterprise staffing culture clashed with GA's startup-oriented education brand. Integration pressures drove out key leadership and changed the metrics-focus in ways that undermined the product quality and employer relationships GA was valued for.

Is General Assembly still operating?

GA continues under Adecco ownership but at significantly reduced scale. The independent brand identity and culture that defined the company's first seven years effectively ended during the 2018-2019 integration period.

← All autopsies

// HALL OF FLAME · STARTUP AUTOPSY

Founded	2011
Closed	2019
Country	USA
Sector	Edtech
Total raised	119
Collapse type	Acqui-hire

General Assembly

Q: What was General Assembly?

General Assembly was one of the original coding bootcamp companies, offering intensive in-person programs in software engineering, data science, UX design, and digital marketing across 20+ global campuses. It was known for strong employer relationships and job placement outcomes.

$119M

RAISED

—

EMPLOYEES

MONTHS

acquisition gone wrongAcqui-hire

// Fatal mistake: Adecco's enterprise staffing integration culture destroyed the brand premium and startup DNA that justified the $412M acquisition price

Key Events Timeline

2011-01

FOUNDING

General Assembly founded as co-working space and event venue in NYC

2015-06

FUNDING

General Assembly reaches peak valuation of $200M+ with 20+ global campuses and strong employer relationships

2018-03

ACQUISITION ATTEMPT

Adecco acquires General Assembly for $412M to combine staffing with tech education pipeline

2018-09

CEO CHANGE

Key leadership departs post-acquisition as cultural integration fails between startup-oriented GA and Adecco's enterprise bureaucracy

2019-01

DOWN ROUND

Adecco writes down General Assembly acquisition significantly as bootcamp market becomes saturated with lower-cost competitors

2019-06

SHUTDOWN

General Assembly ceases operations; brand and independent operations end after acqui-hire and market consolidation

🔥 Hall of Flame 50%🏆 Hall of Fame 8%

General Assembly was one of the original coding bootcamp brands, growing from a co-working space and event venue in NYC to a global network of campuses offering immersive tech education across software engineering, data science, UX design, and digital marketing.

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More Edtech →More from USA →More acquisition gone wrong failures →Raised: 119

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// THE EDTECH GRAVEYARD DOESN'T END HERE

General Assembly followed a documented pattern. Identify the same signals in any company before they reach the point of no return.

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