Fueler in HackerRank

Recently, I had the opportunity to meet the founder of HackerRank, and the conversation left a lasting impact on me. HackerRank is widely known as one of the most trusted platforms for testing coding skills, but what stood out to me was not just the scale of the company. It was the journey behind it.

Vivek Ravisankar has been building HackerRank since 2009. That kind of consistency is rare in the startup world. It requires patience, long-term thinking, and deep belief in the problem you are trying to solve. Very few companies survive long enough to benefit from that level of commitment, and HackerRank is a clear example of what happens when they do.

What initially drew me to speak with him was something small but meaningful that I noticed in his bio. It mentioned skills over pedigree. That single line immediately resonated with me because it reflects exactly what we believe in at Fueler.

At Fueler, we are building a portfolio platform that helps companies hire through assignments instead of resumes. Our belief is simple. People should be judged by the work they do, not by their college name, resume formatting, or background. Skills are demonstrated through action, not claims.

During our conversation, I asked how HackerRank measures coding skills so effectively. The answer was straightforward. You give people real problems and observe how they solve them. You evaluate their thinking process, logic, and approach, not just whether they arrive at the correct output.

That led me to ask a question that matters deeply to us at Fueler. How should companies evaluate creative professionals like writers, designers, and marketers? What are the right metrics for roles where output is subjective and context-driven?

The answer came back to one fundamental idea: proof of work. For creative roles, the strongest signal is always the work itself. What someone has created matters far more than what they claim on a resume. The way they approach a problem, the decisions they make, and the impact of their work tell a much clearer story than any qualification ever could.

This is exactly why we believe assignments and portfolios are the future of hiring. Degrees, certificates, and courses are more accessible than ever, but real, applied work remains rare. When someone submits an assignment on Fueler, companies get to see how that person thinks and executes in a real-world context. It reduces guesswork, shortens hiring cycles, and makes the process more fair for both sides.

One thing became very clear to me during that conversation. The future belongs to people who can show what they do. HackerRank transformed hiring for developers by focusing on skills over credentials. At Fueler, we are trying to do the same for non-coding roles.

Different products, but the same belief. And that belief gives me confidence that we are building in the right direction.

What is Fueler Portfolio?

Fueler is a career portfolio platform that helps companies find the best talent for their organization based on their proof of work.

You can create your portfolio on Fueler, thousands of freelancers around the world use Fueler to create their professional-looking portfolios and become financially independent. Discover inspiration for your portfolio

Sign up for free on Fueler or get in touch to learn more.