Freelancing can be very enticing because of the freedom that a freelancer enjoys. Away from strict working hours, restricted leave, and desk-bound jobs, freelancers often have complete control over their schedules.
Working from the comforts of their homes or while on the run, freelancers are their own bosses and with the changing landscape of a workplace, talented freelancers are being sought after increasingly for their specialized talent, and Flexiple, a Bengaluru-based firm, is assisting this army of specialists.
Flexiple was founded in November 2015 with the goal of creating a freelancing platform that allows organizations and freelancers to have “excellent interactions.”
Since then, the objective has been to guarantee a successful engagement in which both the customer. And the freelancer is happy and satisfied at the conclusion of the arrangement.
According to a 2018 PayPal survey, India accounts for one out of every four freelancers. India also dominates the software ecosystem, accounting for half of all worldwide freelancers — the majority of whom are under the age of 40.
Over time, the freelancing market has developed to the point that platforms now place a greater prominence on reviews and ratings as criteria for determining quality. These measures perform effectively when a worker’s service is commodified and repeatable. But not when the service is highly dependent on the freelancer’s ability and experience.
Joining Flexiple
Freelancers who join Flexiple must go through a rigorous screening procedure that assesses their skill set. General aptitude as well as soft skills such as communication, timeliness, attitude, and several other factors are taken into account.
Flexiple came into existence as a result of this insight, since the company wants only the “best” freelance developers and designers as members of the community.
Customers are interested in finding freelancers to fill out a form on Flexiple’s website. And the organization approaches them by phone to confirm their requirements. Clients are then given up to three customized recommendations based on their needs, saving them time and effort. After that, customers are given a week to see if the freelancer they choose is right for the project.
Flexiple takes care of the payments and contracts once the trial time is finished. Every project is entrusted to a “customer satisfaction manager” within the startup. To avoid any possible difficulties during the project. But this manager maintains a close eye on both the customer and the freelancer.
Meet the Founders
Karthik, a BITS Pilani alumni, worked for financial services giant JP Morgan prior to enrolling at IIM-A.
Flexiple’s founders — Karthik Sridharan, Hrishikesh Pradeshi, and Suvansh Bansal–turned down university placements after getting a degree from IIM-Ahmedabad to concentrate exclusively on their venture.
Hrishikesh, an NIT Trichy alumnus, worked for Adobe and Amazon, while Suvansh worked for Maruti Suzuki.
Flexiple now has a small workforce of nine individuals working with freelancers, recruiting them for their clients’ needs. The bootstrapped business boasts a community of over 200 freelancers from seven countries. Some of them have previously worked for major global corporations such as Amazon, Adobe, Microsoft, Ola, and Goldman Sachs, to mention a few.
Companies like Bain and Company, IFMR, and Maveric Systems, as well as startups like Urban Ladder, Haptik, Embibe, Simpl, Instamojo, and AirPR, are among its clients.
Luck, timing and hard work
“A sustainable business can only be built with a combination of luck, timing, and hard work”
Suvansh says
Flexiple has been self-funded since its beginning, using equity-free funding from IIM-Centre Ahmedabad’s for Innovation Incubation and Entrepreneurship (CIIE).
Flexiple makes money by charging its clients a commission depending on the project’s overall worth.
Freelancers do not have to pay to work on projects. Flexiple began operations in June 2017 and has since produced $700,000 in income, with $375,000 in FY 2018-19. In regard to future plans, Flexiple is seeking to grow internationally after establishing a community and project execution technique in India.
