Mystery startup set to be “disruptive” for the industry.
Target is looking to hire 20 new engineers and staffers for its mysterious tech startup called “Goldfish” led by West Stringfellow, according to Bisnow. The company has been curiously mum about the intent of the new startup, which is part of Target’s efforts to create innovative ways to propel the retail chain forward, the Minneapolis Star Tribune reported. The listing for one of the advertised positions states that the project “is ambitious and bent on disrupting the way people shop,” Consumerist reported. The project apparently will be housed in Target’s Sunnyvale, California tech office.
While a Target spokesperson did confirm that the retailer was hiring tech personnel, no further details were made available for this project. “At this point the project and what it is, is still confidential,” said Jenna Reck, the spokeswoman.
According to Reck, Stringfellow, who is also overseeing Target’s upcoming partnership with start-up accelerator Techstars, will continue to work out of the Minneapolis office, while a small group of people who have been working on the project from Minneapolis will be moving out to California.
Target is one of the most-tech forward retailers in the nation, so secretive tech startups are old news for the retailer, which already employs approximately 60 techies in its Silicon Valley offices. The company also maintains an innovation lab in Boston to concentrate on food technology in partnership with the MIT Media Lab and design firm Ideo.
And Target is not the only company investing in tech startups: Home Depot, Nordstrom, Sears, Walmart, and Zappos each have established innovation laboratories dedicated to advancing retail technology.
Stringfield was one of three entrepreneurs in residence hired by Target last year to help bring the retailer’s innovation agenda to life. In December, he was promoted to vice president of internal innovation and operations.
