Upwork is the world's work marketplace that connects businesses with independent talent from across the globe. Founded as Elance-oDesk in 2013 following the merger of Elance Inc. and oDesk Corp., the company rebranded to Upwork in 2015. Headquartered in Santa Clara and San Francisco, California, Upwork has grown into the largest human and AI-powered freelance marketplace, trusted by businesses ranging from Fortune 100 enterprises to entrepreneurs. The platform enables businesses to find and hire expert talent across more than 10,000 skills, including AI and machine learning, software development, sales and marketing, customer support, and finance and accounting. Since its founding, Upwork has facilitated over $30 billion in total transactions and services, creating economic opportunities for talent worldwide.
Built for the age of AI and powered by people, Upwork is transforming how work gets done in an increasingly distributed world. The company's platform provides businesses with on-demand access to highly skilled talent while offering freelancers the flexibility to work from anywhere. In 2022, Upwork was recognized on TIME's list of the 100 Most Influential Companies, highlighting its impact on the future of work. The company went public in 2018 (NASDAQ: UPWK) and continues to innovate with AI-powered solutions like Uma, its mindful AI companion, to help both clients and freelancers work smarter. With approximately 600 employees and a mission to create opportunity in every era of work, Upwork remains committed to building a more inclusive and flexible global workforce.