Upper is a technology company.
Upper has raised $160K across 1 funding round.
Upper has raised $160K in total across 1 funding round.
Upper has raised $160K in total across 1 funding round.
Upper's investors include FiDi Ventures.
UPPER is a Berlin-based technology company founded in 2020 that operates as a tech freelance operating system (OS), providing fast access to pre-vetted European tech talent including developers, designers, product managers, AI/data experts, InfoSec professionals, and full teams.[1][2] It serves startups, businesses, and organizations across Europe by matching talent to projects via CTO-level experts using a proprietary platform that blends open/closed marketplace transparency with curation, management tools, and a transparent service-fee model, solving pain points in tech freelancing like mismatched hires and slow staffing.[1][2][3] With thousands of vetted professionals averaging 11 years of experience from top firms like Google and Adobe, UPPER supports full-time, part-time, hourly, remote, or on-site engagements, earning praise for quick matches, high talent quality, and streamlined invoicing.[2][3]
The platform intersects megatrends in software development, freelancing, and remote work, powering hyper-growth companies like Gorillas and Awin with on-demand staffing that feels personal yet tech-augmented.[1][2]
UPPER was founded in 2020 in Berlin by a team of tech veterans: Victor Cazacu (ex-founder of MVP Factory and Head of Mobile at N26), Paul Friedrich (ex-Director of Operations EMEA at Goldman Sachs-backed Applause), and Ivan Bernat (ex-Head of Technical Talent at Andreessen Horowitz-backed Toptal).[1] Their complementary C-level and founder experiences in mobile tech, operations, and talent sourcing converged to address flaws in fragmented freelancing markets, building a platform that leverages their industry know-how for expert matching.[1]
Early traction came from servicing a growing European customer base with hundreds of EU-based pros from elite companies, backed by investors like Cavalry Ventures (Claude Ritter, co-founder of Delivery Hero), another.vc, and angels Vassil Terziev (Telerik co-founder) and Christian Rebernik (ex-N26 CTO/MD).[1] This funding and founder pedigree enabled rapid scaling of its vetted community and managed services.[1][2]
UPPER rides the convergence of software demand, freelance economy growth, and remote work normalization, timing perfectly with Europe's tech talent shortage amid U.S. dominance in AI/big tech.[1][2] Market forces like hyper-growth startups (e.g., Gorillas) needing instant scaling favor its on-demand model, which curates senior talent from top firms while ensuring EU compliance and borderless access.[1][2]
It influences the ecosystem by professionalizing tech freelancing—elevating it from noisy job boards to a trusted OS—fostering sustained collaborations (short/long-term, individuals/teams) and enabling companies to build MVPs or scale without full-time overhead.[1][3] As a Europe-focused player, UPPER counters global platforms by prioritizing quality curation and local expertise, supporting the continent's startup boom.[1][2]
UPPER is poised to dominate Europe's tech talent market as AI/data demands surge and hybrid work solidifies, potentially expanding beyond freelancing into permanent hires or non-EU regions with its scalable platform.[2][5] Trends like AI-augmented staffing and regulatory pushes for compliant remote work will amplify its edge, while network effects from its vetted community and investor backing drive viral growth.[1][2]
Its influence could evolve into the "go-to OS" for tech teams, as investors predict, tying back to its founding mission: fixing freelancing at the software-remote-freelance nexus for mutual trust and efficiency.[1]
Upper has raised $160K across 1 funding round. Most recently, it raised $160K Seed in April 2021.
| Date | Round | Lead Investors | Other Investors |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 1, 2021 | $160K Seed | FiDi Ventures |