French startup Leap, a contemporary tackle the idea of umbrella firms in France, has raised €11 million (round $12 million at present change charges) in a Collection A funding spherical.
Leap affords full-time contracts to freelancers on the lookout for some stability and the advantages concerned with a full-time job. It solely acts as an administrative companion and employees stay impartial — they’ll work with a number of purchasers and negotiate their contracts straight.
Breega is main at present’s funding spherical, and Index Ventures and Increase Ventures are additionally taking part. The startup had beforehand raised €4 million (round $4.5 million) again in 2021.
After signing up, freelancers can invoice their prospects by way of Leap’s platform, and on the finish of the month, they’ll create payslips and obtain a wage. This characteristic alone signifies that freelancers can outline a pay for themselves that works all 12 months lengthy — even throughout these sluggish summer season months.
And with a everlasting contract, employees are registered with the nationwide healthcare system and might contribute to the nationwide pension system. Leap additionally gives medical health insurance contracts through Alan, meal vouchers through Swile, entry to worker financial savings schemes and extra. In France, a everlasting contract can also be significantly useful once you’re attempting to purchase a house and negotiating a mortgage with a financial institution.
There are some tradeoffs, although. Company contributions are deducted out of your pay, and Leap itself prices €99 per 30 days. However once you’re a freelancer, cash is only one a part of the equation. I can see many freelancers who would really like the perfect of each the freelancing and full-time employment worlds. To date, the startup has managed to persuade 2,000 freelancers to make the soar.
The startup not too long ago additionally launched a free providing for freelancers who’re simply getting began. It features a free, skilled checking account with a digital debit card that works with Apple Pay or Google Pay. There are additionally a handful of software program options that can assist you invoice your first purchasers, reminiscent of a built-in invoicing software and a dashboard to trace your monetary efficiency.
“It’s just about in step with how freelancers work: They usually get began with the essential French freelancer standing, after which change to a different standing after they start to really feel the bounds of their freelancing standing and so they have sufficient income,” stated Nicolas Fayon, Leap’s co-founder and CEO (pictured above).
Sooner or later, Leap desires to have the ability to help extra impartial employees, because it now caters to software program builders, information engineers, venture managers, inventive consultants and sports activities coaches.
As an example, it desires to help B2C sellers, reminiscent of “companies that invoice shoppers through Stripe utilizing on-line funds or bodily cost terminals,” Fayon stated. Leap additionally plans to broaden to different international locations, beginning with a British umbrella firm for freelancers working within the U.Okay.
