Byteboard Launches as Independent Company After Google Area 120

Byteboard Spins Out of Google's Area 120

Byteboard, a platform designed to modernize technical hiring, is transitioning into an independent company after being incubated within Google’s Area 120. This marks the first instance of a project fully exiting Area 120 to operate as a standalone entity, though Google clarifies this won’t become standard practice.

No Impact on Area 120's Future

Google has stated that this spinout will not affect ongoing projects or the overall strategy of Area 120. The R&D division will maintain its focus on initiatives that directly contribute to Google’s own strategic objectives and opportunities.

New Investment and Continued Google Equity

Byteboard has secured new funding, estimated between $10 million and $15 million, from investors including Cowboy Ventures. Importantly, this is not a complete acquisition; Google will retain equity in Byteboard, and the company will continue to be guided by its co-founders, Sargun Kaur and Nikke Hardson-Hurley.

Google's Statement on the Spinout

A Google spokesperson expressed enthusiasm regarding Byteboard’s progress over the past three years. They highlighted the platform’s ability to equip businesses with tools for efficient and equitable technical talent assessment. Google anticipates continued collaboration with the Byteboard team.

Addressing Shortcomings in Traditional Technical Interviews

Launched in 2019, Byteboard was created to address the limitations of conventional technical interviews. The founders recognized that existing methods often failed to accurately gauge a candidate’s practical skills and performance in real-world engineering scenarios.

Focus on Practical Application

Traditional interviews frequently favored candidates with ample preparation time and resources, prioritizing memorization over the actual application of skills. Byteboard aims to shift the focus towards evaluating a candidate’s ability to solve problems in a realistic coding environment.

Supported Languages and Technologies

Byteboard supports a wide range of programming languages, including Java, Python, Ruby, C++, C#, JavaScript (node.js), Go, and PHP. Interviews are conducted using HTML, CSS, and JavaScript for web-based assessments, and Swift (iOS) and Kotlin (Android) for mobile evaluations.

Data engineering interviews utilize Python and Java.

Comprehensive Assessment Services

Byteboard provides a complete service encompassing the interview platform, a library of standardized questions covering over 20 key software engineering skills, and post-interview evaluation. Experienced engineers anonymously review and score the interviews to minimize bias.

Rapid Growth and Client Base

The platform experienced significant growth following its 2019 launch. After a temporary slowdown during the initial COVID-19 lockdowns, Byteboard saw a resurgence in Q3 2020 as companies resumed hiring. Notable clients include Lyft, Hulu, Figma, and Robinhood.

Cost Savings and Efficiency

Beyond the benefits of remote interviewing, the platform’s data-driven assessments and reduced candidate stress, Byteboard offers potential cost savings by eliminating the need for companies to dedicate engineering staff to the interview process.

Why Independence Was Crucial

Byteboard’s potential was arguably constrained by its status as a Google-owned product. Having Google involved in the hiring process for other companies, particularly competitors, presented ethical concerns.

Avoiding Conflicts of Interest

Companies are generally hesitant to allow competitors access to their hiring processes. This conflict of interest was a primary driver behind the decision to establish Byteboard as an independent business.

Team Transition

Of Byteboard’s six-person team, some members are transitioning to the standalone company, while others will remain at Google to pursue new projects. Google has not confirmed specific details regarding the team’s distribution but affirmed Byteboard’s continued focus on product development and operational expansion.