Great question. Services like Fivrr and Communo are talent marketplaces built to make money by connecting creative talent with marketers or organizations looking for freelance talent. These companies are designed to make money from connecting paying companies with their network of freelancers. In their model, talent is a commodity that’s being sold. This is an antiquated profit-lead model that doesn’t benefit the freelancer community. Their profits are made either based on the transaction or a monthly subscription fee. That’s not what we’re developing. We think those models aren’t effective or valuable resources.

Unlike other freelancer networks, we are designing everything with the unique needs of the freelancer first. What do they need to succeed? How do needs vary across regions in Canada? What’s working and what isn’t? This is why we’re conducting a national survey.

All creative freelance professionals in Canada.

Currently the network is self-financed and supported entirely by our agency. However, we’re in the process of attempting to secure government funding. Our preference is to avoid outside private investments to ensure focus and control.

We’re not looking to make money on the backs of freelancers. Other marketplaces do that and we think it’s exploitative. After our launch, we will begin to roll out services designed to help clients and our community succeed. Until then, we will be supported by our personal investments and any outside funding that we’re able to secure.

Not being profit-led ensures that the focus is on freelancers and areas where we can help build and foster the most value. It’s also why we’re self-funding this initiative, rather than taking money from a VC or private investor.

Membership is free for all freelance professionals in Canada. In the future, there could be optional costs (i.e., group health plan, training, etc), but ultimately we’re looking to build something for members that improves their lives.

Ah! The million-dollar question. We’re in the early planning phases and the survey is the first step to validate our idea and better understand the needs of Canadian freelancers. Hopefully, it will also help us secure a grant to build what freelancers actually want! More details are coming soon as we build a roadmap… and juggle client work!

This will all depend on what we hear from the national survey. And, pending government funding. 💰Some early ideas include training, networking, a group health plan, preferred pricing for co-working spaces, and even a group retirement saving plan.

We believe that greatness is in the agency of others–meaning we know that we won’t solve this on our own. We’re excited to get direct feedback from the community and co-develop ideas, based on immediate need. And no, we’re not worried about someone stealing the idea. In fact, if someone steals the idea and makes a stronger product, we’d be thrilled. We’re doing this because we believe there’s no suitable Canadian support system for freelancers.

We hope this will be national. We have long arms. :) Our goal is to be inclusive regardless of the location Canadian freelancers choose to work from. We have no immediate plans for local chapters but will explore this as we finalize and evolve the idea.