This Week in Startups
Student Roy Lee Hacks Amazon, SBF's Jailhouse Chat + more! | E2095
Mar 11, 2025
Roy Lee, a Columbia University student and founder of InterviewCoder, shares his unique journey using tech to navigate the interview landscape. He dishes on the backlash from Amazon after his viral revelations. The conversation dives into the chaotic cryptocurrency market and MicroStrategy's bold Bitcoin investments. They also explore trends in electric vehicles, the rise of electric unicycles, and the future of interviewing tech. Ethics and startup challenges are discussed, providing a candid look at navigating today’s innovative landscape.
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Quick takeaways
- The development of Interview Coder by a student highlights ethical dilemmas and pressures associated with technical interviews in tech recruitment.
- The discussion raised concerns over the integrity of job application processes and the implications of unconventional strategies among candidates.
Deep dives
Hacking the Interview Process
A student developed a tool called Interview Coder to cheat on technical coding interviews, notably for companies like Amazon. This tool allows users to input code challenges and receive answers through a simple interface while providing an overlay to keep the developer's screen appearing legitimate during interviews. While other major companies like Capital One and Meta were part of the practice, Amazon represented the ultimate goal due to its recognition in the tech industry. The student shared their journey on YouTube, demonstrating the process and inadvertently attracting the attention of Amazon executives.
