Upwork, formerly oDesk, is a freelancing platform where businesses and independent professionals connect and collaborate remotely. UpWork is headquartered in Mountain View, California.
It was founded in 2003 by two friends, Odysseas Tsatalos and Stratis Karamanlakis, who wanted to create an online marketplace that would connect businesses with remote freelance workers. The site was launched in 2005 and was rebranded as UpWork in 2015.
UpWork has been growing rapidly in recent years. In 2013, the company had 3 million registered freelancers and $1 billion in annual billings.
In 2014, it had 10 million registered freelancers and $2.5 billion in annual billings. And in 2015, it had 12 million registered freelancers and $3 billion in annual billings.
The company has been profitable since 2010, but it has not been without controversy. In 2011, oDesk was accused of misclassifying workers as independent contractors instead of employees. The company settled the lawsuit for $950,000 without admitting any wrongdoing.
So what’s behind UpWork’s success?
The key to UpWork’s success is its platform. The UpWork platform makes it easy for businesses to find and hire freelancers from all over the world. And it makes it easy for freelancers to find work and get paid.
The UpWork platform is simple and efficient. Businesses can post projects and freelancers can submit proposals.
Once a project is awarded, the freelancer and the business can communicate and collaborate on the UpWork platform. And when the project is completed, the business can pay the freelancer through the UpWork platform.
The UpWork platform takes a cut of each transaction, but that’s how the company makes its money. UpWork doesn’t charge businesses or freelancers any monthly or annual fees.
UpWork is a great option for businesses that want to hire quality freelancers without spending a lot of money. And it’s a great option for freelancers who want to find steady work and get paid quickly and easily.
Conclusion:
So is oDesk now UpWork? Yes, oDesk is now officially UpWork.
