Gild secures $2.4 mn in funding

Launches major new features to help developers share and compare their skills

Gild, where developers build, share, compare and improve their skills profiles, today announced it has closed a $2.4 million round of funding led by Globespan Capital Partners. Venky Ganesan, the venture firm’s managing director, will join Gild’s Board of Directors.

In addition to the funding, the company unveiled a new visual interface and a series of major enhancements. Gild members can now build robust profiles of their skills and search for and compare their skills with other developers around the world. The new features, along with tighter integration with other social and professional networks, will make it easier for developers to promote their skills, compare themselves to others, and learn how they stack up against the rest of the world.

Since launching in September 2010, Gild has grown to nearly half a million members across the world. Through scientific assessment and algorithms, Gild provides developers worldwide with a way to rank themselves by solving real world coding puzzles, earn certifications that test for the application of coding knowledge and experience, and utilize a smart recommendations engine. Over 70% of Gild members say that the achievements earned on the site helped improve their skills.

“Gild is the only place where developers are ranked on their skills – using sophisticated science and algorithms backed by skills tests, endorsements and real world programming challenges,” said Sheeroy Desai, Gild CEO. “With the enhancements and features we launched today, Gild will be the essential utility where developers come to build, share, and compare their skills profiles, and in the process understand how they rank, how to promote themselves and how to stand out based on what they know, not who they know. We are thrilled with Globespan’s support and look forward to their guidance and partnership as we continue to grow into the leading skills-based professional community,” he said.

“By mapping the world’s talent based on skills profiles, Gild is leading the way in the next frontier for talent and professional networking. We believe Gild will become the essential skills network for talent worldwide,” said Globespan managing director Venky Ganesan. “We love the long term vision, the team, and the potential to build a huge business.”