Freelancing has become the new norm now. The COVID-19 pandemic endorsed the gig industry that offers flexible working hours for highly-skilled workers. As per the statistics, India has the world’s seventh-largest freelance workforce after the United States and Bangladesh. Over five lakh people freelancers work across various sectors. The global freelance platforms market is expected to hit $9192.9 million by 2027, up from $3393.5 million in 2020, at a CAGR of 15.3 per cent.
Although it is a growing industry, one of the challenges freelancers face is connecting with the right job providers. There exists a huge gap between skilled workers and job providers. The following five startups help bridge this gap.
Check them out!
GigIndia:
Pune-based GigIndia, launched by Sahil Sharma and Aditya Shirole in 2017, is a business-to-business (B2B) marketplace offering on-demand work completion for companies with the help of a group of skilled, on-demand workforce. It uses Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning to ensure smooth workflow.
Last year, GigIndia raised Rs 7.3 crore in a pre-Series A funding round led by Incubate Fund and Beyond Next Ventures. The fund has been used to build its team, technology, and brand.
Taskmo:
Bengaluru-based Taskmo helps large businesses, corporations, brands, and startups by connecting them with gig workers. Earlier known as FeeMyPockets, Taskmo, founded by Prashant Janadri and Naveen Ramachandran in 2016, uses technology to manage, train, and employ grey collar professionals. Its mission is to make jobs available to everyone as well as to digitise gig jobs.
UniGigs:
Gurugram-based UniGigs offers freelancers a platform to find clients, build community, and have a sound career. The startup established by Dharmendra Ahuja and Harsh Vardhan Jain in 2021 follows a zero commission policy and offers freelancers their freedom of creativity. It plans to offer freelancers international opportunities in the future.
KIWI:
What makes Delhi-based Talent-as-a-Service (TaaS) startup KIWI unique is that it connects clients and freelancers within 180 seconds. The platform contains experts in domains such as design, content, technology, health and fitness. KIWI, founded by technopreneur Imran Ladiwala and serial entrepreneur Mishu Ahluwalia, aims to make it easier for workers to find expert solutions, without spending time on the briefing, negotiating, and delivery. The platform raised $250,000 in a seed round from PointOne Capital, Core91 VC, AppyHigh, and other angel investors in 2021.
Kool Kanya:
Vanshika Goenka established Mumbai-based Kool Kanya in 2019. A women-only freelancing networking platform and career community, it helps women build careers of their choice through content creation, both video and written forms. It provides access to job opportunities, provides community support, and gives career advice. it blends both online and offline women’s-targeted communities.
