For startups, i've basically stopped believing in the traditional design interview loop. My dream design interview loop: 

1. 30m portfolio review
2. Onsite to produce eng-ready mock in a tiny area

Everything else is just noise. Bonus: pick anything in the app, ship 1 PR to make it nicer.

Interesting approach! Focusing on practical skills and real impact on the product seems like a great way to assess design candidates for startups. Cutting out the noise and getting straight to the core of their abilities can definitely streamline the hiring process. Thanks for sharing your insights!