Why Investment Companies Are Turning to Freelancers Over Big Firms
In today’s fast-moving digital economy, investment companies are increasingly partnering with independent professionals over traditional agencies or large consultancies — and for good reason. While the demand for specialized digital talent is growing, so are the challenges faced by freelancers themselves.
Valentina B.
7/10/20241 min read
Key Challenges Faced by Freelancers in Digital Fields
Recent studies highlight several pressure points:
Project Volatility & Income Insecurity: According to a 2024 Malt & BCG Freelance Economy Report, over 65% of European freelancers cite irregular project flow and late payments as top concerns.
Administrative Burden: Freelancers spend up to 30% of their time managing non-billable tasks such as invoices, proposals, and contracts (Freelancers Union Europe, 2023).
Access to High-Value Projects: Many independent professionals struggle to connect with larger, long-term clients due to lack of visibility and established networks.
Despite these hurdles, demand for digital freelancers continues to soar — particularly among investors and startups.
Why Investment Firms Prefer Freelancers Over Agencies
A 2023 report by Dealroom and European Investment Fund (EIF) noted a clear trend: early-stage companies backed by investment firms increasingly build agile teams with freelance specialists, rather than relying on traditional service providers.
Here’s why:
Speed & Flexibility: Freelancers can be onboarded faster and scaled up or down as needed — essential in time-sensitive investment environments.
Specialization: Many independent professionals offer deep niche expertise (UX audits, data visualization, API integration, etc.) that’s hard to match within generalist agencies.
Cost-Efficiency: Without the overhead of big firms, freelancers deliver quality at a better ROI — allowing more budget to go directly into product development and growth.
Direct Collaboration: Investors and startup founders value the hands-on, responsive working relationship that’s possible with individuals, not layers of account managers.
The Bottom Line
The freelance economy — especially in digital fields like design, development, and growth marketing — is becoming central to how investment companies build momentum in early-stage ventures. But bridging the gap between top-tier freelance talent and serious projects remains a challenge.
That’s where new HR models and talent platforms come in. By creating structured, data-informed ways to match self-employed specialists with strategic investment-backed projects, companies can support both growth and individual success — while cutting out unnecessary friction.
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