“We trained people in Camden. Our alumni trained others in Gaza. It was peer-led — and it worked.”
Dan Sofer didn’t mean to build a coding movement.
But over a decade, through a mix of grit, generosity, and peer-led magic, that’s precisely what happened.
In this episode, Bernie sits down with Dan, founder of Founders and Coders — the radically open, tuition-free coding boot camp based at Space4 in Finsbury Park — to trace how one small meetup evolved into a deeply human education model.
You’ll hear how a British Library study group turned into Gaza Sky Geeks.
How Camden Collective gave them a chance. And how Space4 in Finsbury Park became more than a desk — it became a home.
Together, they explore the power of peer-led learning, the uncertain future of developer jobs in an AI-saturated world, and what it takes for coworking spaces to become a form of civic infrastructure.
This isn’t just an episode about training software developers.
It’s a blueprint for how coworking, community, and skill-building can entwine to create something resilient, real, and deeply needed — especially in places under siege.
If you’ve ever asked, “How do we actually build something that lasts?”
Face the front! This is one for your notebook, kids!
⏱ Timeline Highlights
[00:59] “I’ve thrown most of my energy into this for 12 years.”
[02:20] What Founders and Coders does (and doesn’t)
[04:15] How Camden Collective gave them a vital early boost
[05:42] Why Dan said yes to Space4 and never left
[06:16] The overlooked power of peer-led learning
[08:59] What AI is doing to the developer job market right now
[10:45] How COVID, layoffs, and funding shifts reshaped their model
[14:42] “We’re still here, but the world around us is different now”
[15:39] Real talk: how do they serve the local community?
[18:55] What makes coworking and training work together
[21:44] From London to Gaza: the story behind their international programmes
[23:45] What happened to Gaza Sky Geeks — and what’s still possible
[28:55] How peer-led training created a global alumni-led movement
[32:28] Why informal learning environments change everything
[34:00] Dan’s invitation to coworking spaces, thinking about AI and education
[35:15] Wednesday Community Lunches — and why you should come hungry
🎯 Thematic Breakdown
Peer-Led Learning Is the Future — But We’ve Forgotten How to Do It
Dan shares how he rediscovered the magic of learning in community, without a “sage on the stage.” It’s not a theory. It’s a method. And it works.
How Camden Collective and Space4 Sparked a Movement
A coding bootcamp in a donated space.
A coworking co-op that said yes. Dan reflects on the generosity and risk that made Founders and Coders possible.
Why Software Development Won’t Look the Same in 3 Years
AI isn’t coming. It’s here.
Dan explains how code is already being written differently — and what today’s learners need to stay relevant tomorrow.
COVID, Layoffs, Apprenticeships — and the Grind Behind the Growth
2020 was the best and worst year.
A glimpse into how they kept going when fees vanished, and why apprenticeships became the next step.
Coworking as Civic Infrastructure: A Real London Case Study
Most spaces host. Space4 committed.
Dan explains why this partnership works — and how other coworking spaces can do the same (if they stop being afraid of mess).
Gaza Sky Geeks and the Unfinished Legacy of Peer-Led Training
From Nazareth to Gaza, Hebron to Hackney — the wild and fragile international arc of Founders and Coders, including what remains after the
Serendipity Is Real — But So Is Showing Up Every Week for 12 Years
Dan didn’t plan to be here. But he never left. And that quiet, stubborn consistency may be the most powerful lesson in this episode.
🔗 Links & Resources
Dan Sofer & Founders and Coders
Founders and Coders
https://www.linkedin.com/in/dsofer/
Community & Collaboration
Gaza Sky Geeks
Yala Digital Co-op
Outlandish
Camden Collective
Space4
Tony David Author
Coworking Community
London Coworking Assembly
Coworking Values LinkedIn Group
Workspace Design Show – Feb 2026
🧠 One More Thing
Coworking can be more than just flexible workspaces — it can also serve as infrastructure for learning, resilience, and connection across borders.
Every episode of the Coworking Values Podcast explores the values that make this possible: Accessibility, Community, Openness, Collaboration, and Sustainability.
If this resonates, rate, follow, and share. You never know who’s listening — or who needs this blueprint right now.
Community is the key 🔑
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