Title: From a Startup Inquiry to a Series A Milestone: Our Journey to Competing with Upwork
A year ago, I asked the Reddit community a provocative question: why isn’t anyone competing with Upwork? Today, we’re excited to share a major milestone in our own journey—our Series A round.
Context and timing
– A lot has changed in the past year. I relocated to San Francisco to be closer to the center of innovation and opportunity.
– I met my co-founder during the COVID era. Our shared vision quickly became a catalyst for collaboration.
Founding a shared mission
– Once we realized our goals aligned, we committed to building this venture together. Our daily routine evolved into a steady rhythm: morning meetings, breakfast, brainstorming on a whiteboard, collaborative work sessions, and long walks that stretched past sunset.
– This cadence strengthened both our friendship and our conviction about the market potential we were pursuing.
Building the team around a bold idea
– As we recognized the magnitude of the opportunity, we began recruiting across roles—engineers, designers, and community builders—centered on one core mission: empowering people to work independently with freedom and opportunity.
– We’re proud of the team we’ve assembled. Their talent, care, and commitment have been instrumental as we progressed through pre-seed, seed, and now Series A funding.
– We’ve been leveraging a strong technology stack to build a product that we believe can redefine how independent work is approached and executed.
A milestone worth celebrating
– We’ve achieved a significant funding milestone and are continuing to advance our product and community platform.
– Our launch, while largely remote, was a meaningful testament to the team’s dedication and the community we’re serving.
A word of encouragement
– If you’re pursuing a bold idea with real conviction, stay the course. The past year has reinforced our belief that a well-aligned team, a clear mission, and persistent effort can drive substantial progress—even in challenging markets.
Thank you to everyone who has supported and encouraged us along the way. We’re incredibly excited for what comes next as we continue to grow and scale.
