Skip to main content

Google hires engineers from Homejoy as it looks to enter home services market

Screen Shot 2015-07-17 at 3.00.57 PM

Re/code reports that Google is hiring the technical team responsible for Homejoy, a startup that helped online users find professional cleaners. Homejoy will cease its operations at the end of this month due to multiple employee reclassification lawsuits, according to a report. The team joining Google includes about 20 people, all of which were on the product and engineering teams at Homejoy.

Homejoy had raised around $40 million in funding from investors, one of which was Google Ventures. The company’s revenue came from taking a percentage of every transaction that it setup between a customer and a home service worker. The service was very similar to Angie’s List, which allows users to view providers of local services online and read reviews.

Earlier this year, a report claimed that Google was looking to launch a tool to allow users to compare local home repair services, and these additional hires from Homejoy seem perfectly fit to continue the development of that tool. Google’s service will reportedly allow users to connect with plumbers, electricians, roofers, and various other handyman-type jobs. Google would allow handymen to upload their schedules to the service and then for users to sign up for an appointment online.

It remains unclear when Google’s service for finding local home repair services will launch, or if it will indeed be a standalone service. The company could always integrate the feature into its existing Search platform. Google recently launched a service that allows users to compare auto insurance pricing in the United States, while also continuing to add to its existing services for things like flight pricing.

FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. More.

You’re reading 9to5Google — experts who break news about Google and its surrounding ecosystem, day after day. Be sure to check out our homepage for all the latest news, and follow 9to5Google on Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn to stay in the loop. Don’t know where to start? Check out our exclusive stories, reviews, how-tos, and subscribe to our YouTube channel

Comments

Author

Avatar for Chance Miller Chance Miller

Email: Chance@9to5mac.com

Chance currently writes for both 9to5Google and 9to5Mac, in addition to 9to5Toys.