Anyone who’s experienced the contractual back-and-forth and mutual scheduling headaches that can accompany freelance creative and project selection may be excited about this week’s unveiling of Startup Weekend founder Andrew Hyde’s new undertaking Pick.im. The freelancer portfolio database enables talent-seekers to search for copywriters, developers, and other specialists in their geographic area and price range. An average of 10 freelancers are currently signing up hourly for what Hyde describes as a more ethical (read: not spec work-centered) response to “sleazy services” that had previously dominated the freelance planning process.
The Boulder-based startup aficionado said he interviewed 500 freelancers about what they would seek in joining a service like Pick before joining up with the Phoenix-based developers at FlatterLine. They skipped a beta release to go straight to the public launch that has resulted in the project hiring of a photographer and UI expert today, and Hyde says a legally binding contract feature is forthcoming. “What is on Pick right now is about 1/3 of the features the site needs to really tick,” he wrote on the Pick blog. “I have a good guess on the 2/3 of the features, but the last 1/3 is going to come directly from listening to our passionate freelancers and clients.” Said like true community advocate.