Passionfruit, a start-up company that provides freelance workers with job opportunities at well-known companies such as HSBC and PepsiCo, has secured a whopping $9 million in a recent funding round. The funding was led by prominent venture capitalists, with Seaya leading the way and other investors including Firstminute Capital, Playfair Capital, Cornerstone, and Portfolio Ventures.
Passionfruit, which was established in 2022, will officially announce the successful Series-A funding this week. The company aims to use the funds to further develop its platform and expand into North America. It currently has over 3,000 registered users and utilizes artificial intelligence to connect companies with freelance talent, primarily in the marketing field but with plans to expand to other areas of the workforce.
According to Raffi Salama, the co-founder and CEO of Passionfruit, the company’s mission is to “empower businesses to grow via collaboration with independent workers.” With the changing work patterns, particularly among younger generations, Passionfruit is well-positioned to meet the demand for more flexible and independent work opportunities.
Salama expressed gratitude for the investors’ confidence in the company’s vision of a world where everyone can work in a way that suits them best, while also enabling businesses to operate more efficiently and effectively. The funds raised bring the total investment in Passionfruit to over $13 million since its inception. The company, which currently has a team of just over 20 employees, plans to use the new capital to enhance its products and expand its reach in the North American market.
Beatriz Gonzalez, founder and managing partner of Seaya, which has a track record of investing in successful start-ups such as Cabify and Spotahome, stated that as tech investors, they believe in the potential for innovation to bring about significant changes and disruptions in the workplace. Passionfruit’s mission aligns with this belief, making it a promising investment opportunity.
Passionfruit’s success in securing a significant amount of funding is a testament to the growing demand for more flexible and efficient ways of working. With its innovative platform and the support of prominent investors, the company is on track to revolutionize the way businesses operate and empower individuals to take control of their professional lives.
