Backbone
Backbone makes gaming hardware and software, raising $40M in Series A funding in February 2022. The Palo Alto-based company has 71 employees.
The growth story
Backbone grew from 81 to 71 employees between 2023 and 2026, raising $40M along the way, most recently a Series A in February 2022.
About
Backbone develops devices and platforms for gaming, targeting both casual and professional gamers. Its products aim to enhance the gaming experience across mobile and console platforms.
The company has grown to 71 staff since its 2021 founding, backed by $40M in Series A funding from investors including Index Ventures and Left Lane Capital. Its team draws heavily from major tech firms like Apple and Google.
Founders and leadership
Backbone's largest function is Arts and Design, with 8 employees. The company has a median tenure of 2 years, suggesting moderate turnover. Leadership includes founders with backgrounds at major tech companies.
The Backbone org chart
Maneet Khaira (CEO) leads 18 mapped leaders with 4 direct reports. Click +N to expand a team; names link to the person’s public profile.
Departments, and which ones grew
Headcount by function: Engineering 12 (-29% YoY), Information Technology 8 (-27% YoY), Business Development 8 (0% YoY), Operations 6 (+20% YoY), Entrepreneurship 5 (0% YoY), Sales 5 (-29% YoY).
Talent flow
Backbone recruits heavily from Google and Apple, with 4 and 3 hires respectively. Alumni frequently move to Thrive by Night, ŌURA, and other tech firms. The company also hires from San José State University and University of California, Davis.
Most common previous employers of Backbone staff: Google (4), Apple (3), San José State University (2), Avnera (2), Best Buy (2), ComplyTM | Hearing Components (2). Former Backbone employees most often moved to Thrive by Night (3), ŌURA (3), Google (3), Apple (3), Sound Games (2), Chirp (2).
Alumni worth knowing
The Backbone mafia
Backbone alumni have founded 6 companies, including Amperos (50 staff) and Sound Games (13 staff). These startups span gaming, hardware, and education sectors.
6Mike Schmid™, was Assistant to Jaiman until 2024Lenny Khazan, was iOS Engineer until 2020Mark Triplett, was Advisor until 2025Riddhi Patel, was Consumer and Marketing Insights until 2025Web traffic
Traffic mix: 21% direct, 54% search, 5% social, 12% paid.
What this company is made of
Most common skills at Backbone: Leadership (15), Startups (12), Java (12), Management (10), Microsoft Excel (10), Microsoft Office (10), HTML (10), Product Management (8).
Where the team actually sits
Backbone people are concentrated in California, United States (11), San Francisco Bay Area (6), United States (5), Oregon, United States (3).
Search footprint
Backbone attracts about 14,310 organic search visits a month, traffic worth roughly $22K a month if bought through ads. It gained 1,602 ranking keywords and lost 1,400 in the last period.
Frequently asked
Backbone has 71 employees as of September 2026.
Backbone has raised $40M in total, most recently a Series A round in February 2022.
Maneet Khaira (CEO) sits at the top of Backbone's reporting structure, with 4 direct reports.
The most common previous employers of current Backbone staff are Google (4 people), Apple (3 people), San José State University (2 people).
Former Backbone employees most often move to Thrive by Night (3), ŌURA (3), Google (3).
At least 6 companies have a founder who previously worked at Backbone, including Amperos, Sound Games, Diode Computers.
Backbone attracts about 14,310 organic search visits a month, worth roughly $22K a month in equivalent ad spend.
The most common skills among Backbone staff are Leadership, Startups, Java, Management, Microsoft Excel.
Backbone staff are concentrated in California, United States (11), San Francisco Bay Area (6), United States (5).
Backbone has about 12 people in Engineering, down 29% over the past year, as of September 2026.
Backbone has about 8 people in Information Technology, down 27% over the past year, as of September 2026.
Computed from 41 current and 125 former Backbone profiles, as of September 2026. Source: Crustdata.
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