Hi from the founder
Hi, my name is Derval O'Neill, and I’m originally from Dublin, Ireland. I founded CodEng in Varese, northern Italy in October 2015 with the goal of getting teenagers excited about coding, robotics, and the latest developments in the tech industry. After publishing a couple of apps on the App Store, my son asked me to come into his class to talk about coding with his classmates. Sharing my passion for all things tech with these young, eager minds—sponges ready to soak it all up—was an incredible experience! And just like that, the idea for CodEng was born.
At CodEng, we offer weekly lessons after school and code camps in Italy and the United States. Our mission is to help young people not just use technology but learn how to create it. We believe that understanding how to build technology is just as important as using it, and we aim to make the process fun and engaging. Our courses are designed to inspire aspiring coders to create their own software, build video games, program robots, experiment with generative AI, and explore the tech topics shaping today’s world. Recently, we added Python 101 with Minecraft Education and electronics with Arduino to our growing curriculum.
We are always looking for new ways to deliver the best possible learning experiences in coding and STEM education. For three years running, I had the privilege of participating in Stanford University's Code in Place initiative, teaching Python online and refining my teaching methods in a deeply rewarding way. We also empower young people through international STEM camps, offering them a window into the tech industry and an opportunity to explore its cutting-edge innovations up close. In 2021, we hosted a code camp at Expo Dubai, and every summer, we visit leading tech companies in Silicon Valley. For the past three summers, we ventured into space tech, training as astronauts and exploring advanced technologies at the US Rocket and Space Center in Huntsville, Alabama. As we celebrate CodEng's 10th anniversary in 2025, we’re expanding our reach to Switzerland and taking our coders to Expo Osaka. It’s an exciting milestone in our journey, and we can’t wait to see what’s next! At CodEng, we’re passionate about helping young people develop critical tech skills, embrace innovation, and have a ton of fun along the way.