Speak With A Geek
| Company type | Private company |
|---|---|
| Founded | San Diego, California, United States (1999) |
| Defunct | 2018 |
| Headquarters | San Francisco, California, United States |
| Services | Technical recruitment |
| Website | speakwithageek.com |
Speak With A Geek (SWAG) was a U.S.-based technical recruitment firm with its main office in San Francisco, California. The organization utilized a mobile application-driven, "peer-to-peer" system comparable to Uber, linking IT specialists with freelance opportunities. SWAG reported having a network of 3 million verified professionals worldwide, serving markets in the United States, Canada, Western Europe, and Asia.
History
Established on August 15, 1999, Speak With A Geek reached the milestone of completing 1,000 projects within its inaugural year. Originally providing in-home technical assistance, the firm transitioned to exclusively servicing businesses by early 2000. The company ceased operations and took down its website by 2018.
Throughout the 2000s, SWAG experienced significant expansion and received extensive media coverage. In 2002, it was highlighted in The New York Times and appeared in over 25 leading newspapers, reaching an audience exceeding 7 million readers. The client base expanded by 25% during 2003. By 2004, the company had broadened its footprint to several U.S. cities such as San Francisco and Tempe, as well as international locations including the United Kingdom and New Zealand.
In 2008, SWAG adopted third-party verification tools to oversee technician credentialing. On July 15, 2015, the firm introduced the SWAG Client App, enabling businesses to instantly connect with a vetted roster of technology professionals for freelance or permanent positions. The platform incorporated a reciprocal rating mechanism to ensure quality standards for both clients and technicians.
Products and Services
Speak With A Geek provided service access through both a web portal and a mobile application compatible with iOS and Android devices, launched on July 15, 2015. Use of the platform required a subscription billed monthly. While many requests centered on personal computer issues, seasonal fluctuations influenced the nature of inquiries.
For Employers
Businesses utilized the platform to advertise job openings and projects, leveraging Speak With A Geek’s thoroughly vetted talent pool.
For Geeks
Technical professionals—referred to as “Geeks”—were evaluated through testing procedures, coding challenges, video interviews, and participation in hackathons conducted via the platform to qualify for assignments.
In The Media
Speak With A Geek earned recognition as a Jupiter Media Metrix "Top Newcomer" in April 2002 after attracting over half a million unique visitors. It was featured in The New York Times in November 2002 amid rising holiday demand for technical support and appeared in Time Magazine in February 2004 as an economical tech support solution. In April 2004, PC Magazine included it within a paid support-services evaluation.
By 2010, the company was cited in the academic textbook "Using Information Technology 9th Edition," which has been adopted by institutions such as the Lahore School of Economics. Nonetheless, intensifying competition from platforms like Dice combined with rapid technological advancements contributed to Speak With A Geek’s downturn. The emergence of mobile technology alongside evolving market conditions ultimately resulted in the company’s shutdown.