Knack’s Successful R&D Team expansion in Spain

Introduction

Knack, a prominent no-code platform founded in the United States in 2010, has earned widespread acclaim for its pioneering no-code platform, which has gained the trust of numerous businesses, including industry leaders such as Honda, Spotify, and esteemed educational institutions like Harvard. Knack’s contribution to reshaping work processes and data management tools is noteworthy.

Challenges

Knack encountered a formidable challenge: the need to advance multiple strategic initiatives simultaneously while maintaining agility in responding to customer demands. The scarcity of highly skilled engineers in their current market compelled Knack to explore innovative avenues for rapid team expansion.

Embarking on an International Journey

In September 2022, Knack adopted the approach of establishing a dedicated branch in Spain, as opposed to engaging third-party consultants. Recognizing the necessity for expert guidance in this endeavor, Knack entrusted BranchCreation with the mission, leveraging their extensive experience in facilitating R&D team building.

The Role of BranchCreation

BranchCreation played a pivotal role in orchestrating Knack’s successful R&D team building in Spain. Their responsibilities included: Administratiom: BranchCreation adeptly managed the complexities of foreign administration, ensuring full compliance with all regulatory and administrative requirements. Talent Acquisition: BranchCreation executed a rigorous recruitment process, meticulously identifying top-tier talent in Spain to enhance Knack’s technical capabilities. Integration and Alignment: Through collaborative efforts with both the existing Knack team and the newly formed Spanish team, BranchCreation seamlessly integrated the Spanish workforce into the parent company’s established processes, strategic plans, and operational systems.

Cost Optimization

While Spain is not considered a cheap labor market, the balance between skills and cost is quite high, so this cost optimization strategy enabled Knack to efficiently expand its team.

Quality and Quantity

In just 11 months, BranchCreation orchestrated the recruitment of 12 full-time engineers, spanning critical roles such as Technical Lead, Full-stack Developers, QA Engineers, Back-end and Front-end Engineers, Managers, and Staff Engineers. This infusion of diverse talent not only enhanced Knack’s technical prowess but also accelerated the pursuit of its strategic objectives.

Reliable Execution

BranchCreation assumed comprehensive responsibility for every aspect of branch establishment and management, allowing the Knack team to focus exclusively on realizing their desired outcomes.

Current Success and Future Growth

At present, Knack’s Spanish team boasts a dedicated workforce of 14 employees, with the potential for further expansion soon. The Spanish branch’s remarkable speed of integration and robust productivity underscore the success of this international expansion initiative.

“BranchCreation was able to help us quickly and efficiently expand into a new labor market and provided support throughout. They were able to take care of initial screenings and made sure candidates had a solid English proficiency as well as solid technical skills prior to going into our group interview and technical interview process. They also helped us navigate some nuances of Spanish law for certain situations. Overall, it’s been great working together and the team we have built in Spain has been an excellent addition to Knack!”

Leo Torbochkin – Director of Engineering at Knack

Conclusion

The establishment of Knack’s Spanish branch exemplifies innovative thinking and effective global collaboration. This strategic move positions Knack for sustained growth and success on an international scale, demonstrating the power of strategic expansion into foreign countries.