Acquisition creates the world’s largest network for top freelance developers, designers, and business professionals.
San Francisco and London – April 4, 2016 – Toptal, the world’s leading network of elite freelance software engineers and designers, today announced the acquisition of Skillbridge, an innovative platform in the on-demand business talent space, for an undisclosed sum. The combined entity will leverage Toptal’s robust technology platform to quickly expand its network of talent and scale product offerings, while maintaining the white-glove matching service and high-level of support that clients of both companies have come to rely upon. With this acquisition, Toptal will represent the top 3% of freelance developers, designers, and business professionals, connecting them with companies around the globe.
“Companies are increasingly looking for expertise within the rapidly-growing on-demand business talent segment, and Skillbridge gives us the experience and knowledge to win in the space alongside our technology,” said Taso Du Val, Co-Founder & CEO of Toptal. “After evaluating the landscape, they were clearly the most disruptive player – not only attracting and retaining the best talent from the likes of McKinsey, Wharton and Google – but also consistently delivering high success rates and repeat usage. Skillbridge’s expertise merged with Toptal’s extreme technological edge will allow us to continue our growth and dominance in the talent marketplace sector.”
Skillbridge has grown rapidly over the past two years, successfully building their client base to include five of the top 10 largest Private Equity firms in the U.S., high-growth startups, and Fortune 500 clients. With more than 7,500 screened freelance professionals to-date, Skillbridge enables businesses to quickly hire top consultants, accountants, statisticians and other trusted specialists in areas such as Market Research, Financial Modeling, and Due Diligence when they need them. Their proprietary Talent Dynamics platform intelligently matches the right talent to best-fit projects to deliver what clients want: a fast, high-quality, and reliable way to engage high-level business talent.
“Toptal has the most advanced platform for hiring the best freelance developers and designers – and rather than focusing blindly on volume, we are both relentless about delivering elite quality, reliability, and amazing service,” said Raj Jeyakumar, Co-Founder & CEO of Skillbridge. “Combining the two businesses, our learnings and resources allow us to bring a truly world-class offering in the talent marketplace,” added Saalim Chowdhury, Co-Founder & CTO of Skillbridge.
“When I invested in Skillbridge, I knew it was a great team with a great product, in a market that needed to be disrupted. We’re delighted with the progress they’ve made. Toptal’s acquisition validates Raj and his team’s dedication. I look forward to seeing the combined firm’s even faster growth in the coming years.” Marvin Liao, Partner, 500 Startups.
Over the past several years, Toptal has become the fastest-growing talent marketplace and has continued to increase its network of freelancers, expand product offerings, and build relationships with key partners. As a network, Toptal has developed a rigorous screening process to identify the best. Of the thousands of applications Toptal sees each month, typically fewer than 3% are accepted. For more information and early access to Toptal’s business freelancer service, visit www.toptal.com/business.
About Skillbridge
Skillbridge is the leading online platform for elite business freelancers. In the last 24 months the company has grown to over 7,500 screened freelance professionals, with clients ranging from the largest private equity houses to the Fortune 500. Their proprietary Talent Dynamics matching technology means projects start in days, not weeks, and deliver with unparalleled reliability. Winner of the 2015 Bully award for innovation and growth potential, Skillbridge was founded at the Wharton School and has offices in New York and London. Notable investors include 500 Startups.
About Toptal
Founded in 2010, Toptal was recently named to the Deloitte Fast 500 and is one the fastest-growing and most innovative companies to emerge from Silicon Valley. With backing from Andreessen Horowitz, Silicon Valley’s famed venture capital firm, Adam D’Angelo, Founder of Quora, Ryan Rockefeller, and other investors, Toptal today connects thousands of elite freelance software engineers and designers from around the world to over 2,000 blue-chip enterprises, such as J.P. Morgan and Pfizer, tech companies such as Airbnb and Zendesk, and numerous startups, to provide world-class solutions that meet the most complex and challenging requirements. Toptal’s rapid growth is testimony to exploding client demand and the unmatched quality and reliability of the company’s services.
Media Inquiries
Joellen Ferrer
Toptal
+1 (415) 308-8209
joellen@toptal.com
