As you read this, you might be polyworking without even realizing it. Polywork is a venture-backed startup that is building a professional network to help people express their multihyphenated work lives. If you’re a reporter who also podcasts, wants to write a book and would love to one day teach at a university, Polywork wants to give you a place to express that.
What is Polywork?
Polywork is a platform that enables individuals to showcase their various skills, experiences, and interests in a single profile. It’s like having multiple business cards or LinkedIn profiles combined into one. According to CEO and founder Peter Johnston, the name "Polywork" purposefully sounds like a verb – "that kind of works." This name reflects the startup’s mission to provide a platform that helps people work on various projects simultaneously.
Polywork Raises $28 Million in Series B Funding
Polywork announced today that it has raised $28 million in Series B funding co-led by former GitHub CEO Nat Friedman and Caffeinated Capital. Other investors who participated in the round include Instacart CEO Fidji Simo, the founders of Instacart, Stripe, Lyft, Clubhouse, Lattice, Minted, and Divvy Homes. Andreessen Horowitz, which led Polywork’s $13 million Series A financing, also participated in this round.
Polywork’s Official Launch Out of Private Beta
This funding round marks Polywork’s official launch out of private beta. While the company declined to share specific user numbers beyond saying that they’re growing, it shows confidence in the platform’s ability to provide a spot for users to express themselves. The startup believes it has found product-market fit since launching.
What Does Polywork Do?
Since first launching, Polywork tracked who signed up to better understand what they want to do – beyond self-expression – once they got to the website. The call to action soon became helping people find opportunities to collaborate with each other. Johnston explained that this collaboration opportunity is key to the platform’s success:
"If LinkedIn is a network for full-time opportunities, we’re sort of the network for collaboration opportunities."
Features and Challenges
Not all features will be open to the public. For example, Polywork is launching Clubs into private beta, a dedicated group space designed to help people collaborate. Think of a group of people brought together by a badge-based entry and proof of experience. Per Polywork, there will be a moderator that facilitates collaboration in the groups.
However, facing the same challenges as any marketplace might, if its value proposition is more collaboration opportunities, how does it onboard not just the people who want a book agent but also enough book agents to make perusal even an option? Everyone may be in search of a podcast co-host, but how do you bring them together?
The Rise of Polywork
As polyworking becomes increasingly popular, it’s essential to understand what this trend means for the future of work. With the rise of remote work and freelancing, people are no longer limited by geographical constraints or traditional 9-to-5 jobs. They can now pursue multiple projects and interests simultaneously.
Conclusion
Polywork is already happening, even if you don’t realize it. As more people join the platform, we can expect to see a shift in how we approach work and collaboration. With Polywork’s innovative approach to professional networking, it’s no wonder that investors are taking notice. Will you be one of them?