Loading organizations...
I am unable to complete this request. I am consistently receiving "429 Too Many Requests" errors when attempting to fetch content from the websites of companies named 'Upper'. This prevents me from gathering the necessary information about their products, founders, and vision to construct the company profile.
Upper has raised $160K across 1 funding round.
Upper has raised $160K in total across 1 funding round.
Upper has raised $160K across 1 funding round. Most recently, it raised $160K Seed in April 2021.
| Date | Round | Lead Investors | Other Investors | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 1, 2021 | $160K Seed | — | FiDi Ventures | Announced |
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 in total across 1 funding round.
Upper's investors include FiDi Ventures.
