MARKET NEWS

Friday Funding: Wingspan Raises $14 Million

By: James Flippin · March 17, 2023 · Reading Time: 3 minutes

The Raise

Wingspan, a payroll platform for freelancers and contractors, just raised $14 million to reach a total valuation of $23.5 million. The Series A funding round was led by Airbnb (ABNB) and Stripe investor Andreessen Horowitz, joining Distributed Ventures, Long Journey Ventures, Ludlow Ventures, and 186 Ventures.

The startup provides an all-in-one suite of tools to make it easier for businesses and contractors to work together. So far, Wingspan has over 20,000 members and, if trends continue, will pass $1 billion in contractor payments by the end of 2023.

The Pitch

Post-pandemic, many companies are forming more flexible working arrangements with their workforce. In fact, 45% of businesses are using more freelancers now than before the pandemic, according to Fiverr (FVRR).

That said, working with freelancers can be more difficult to manage than a team of full-time employees — and Wingspan wants to help. The startup offers an all-in-one solution that benefits freelancers and businesses alike. This includes services like payroll, invoicing, contractor benefits, onboarding, and more.

With fresh funding, Wingspan plans to double its 20-person team by the end of the year.

Time To Freelance?

In the past year, Upwork (UPWK) found 60 million Americans performed freelance work, or around 39% of the US workforce. As more and more workers become freelancers, Wingspan is not the first company to identify the need for tools to help smooth the transition.

Other startups like Gusto, Deel, and Payable, along with major players like Square-parent Block Inc. (SQ), are developing similar products. But Wingspan’s CEO Anthony Mironov says Wingspan’s holistic nature sets it apart: “Hundreds of companies do bits and pieces of what Wingspan does.”

Freelancing can be daunting. It typically requires you to shoulder administrative tasks such as invoicing, paying your taxes, and accessing health benefits. But, with tools like Wingspan on the horizon, the self-employed life might just be about to get a little easier.

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