Contra, a professional network for independent workers, unveiled a new payment model that lets users accept payments for their services on Contra without paying any commission fees.
The new feature comes as the company brings in $30 million in Series B funding, led by NEA, with participation from Unusual Ventures and Cowboy Ventures, both of which invested in Contra’s $14.5 million Series A earlier this year. The latest funding round gives the company just under $45 million in total funding, Ben Huffman, Contra founder and CEO told TechCrunch.
Contra provides tools for independent workers to build a professional identity and manage their work from inquiry to project scope discussion to signing a contract to getting paid, all without having to pay upwards of 20% of fees that other independent work websites may charge, Huffman said.
More than 1 million people joined Contra to find work or hire talent. In a survey of over 10,000 independent workers, the company found that 86% work less than 40 hours per week and value the freedom, autonomy and financial benefits of freelance work.
With many people opting for the flexibility of independent work, NEA’s Ann Bordetsky said she was intrigued by the trend and saw that Contra was becoming a resource that “the Gen Z digital worker is excited to use.”
