The Problem

Current freelancing and professional platforms face problems with centralization, curation, big cuts in the revenue and spam.

Centralization

Centralized systems represent single points of failure controlled by central authorities. Individuals relying on these systems must trust that authorities will not abuse their power. Yet, resisting the temptation to abuse power is difficult in practice for even the most respected ones.

Another problem related to centralization is that if the platform decides to close, all your reputation & history will be deleted.

Curation

Profiles in professional social networks are not validated, many profiles contains false skills or job positions. Job offers also are not validated. Sometimes it takes more time to filter non-sense offers than do some projects.

Some of the most popular freelancing websites often lack curation mechanisms leading to dishonest or low quality freelancers applying to jobs as well as to low quality and extremely underpaid jobs getting posted. [2]

Large and opaque commissions

Professional social networks takes advantage of data and sell premium services on top like job offers where users don’t get any direct benefit.

Freelancing platforms take a large commission that is sometimes transparent if you search for it. But for other platforms it’s completely opaque. Curated platforms go with opaque fees that are much larger than non-curated platforms.

Spam

Unwanted messages are often received in these networks. Content tends not to be professional and more related to a normal social network.

Another big problem with professional networks are that some recruiters instead of review skills and experience of possible candidates, just bulk messages targeting users without desired skills.

Targeted messages are monetised by the platform and members don’t get any benefit from receiving those messages.