Elance (historical)

Elance was a pioneering online platform launched in 1999 that connected freelance professionals with clients seeking specialized services. It functioned as a marketplace where businesses could post projects and freelancers could bid to complete the work remotely. Elance streamlined the hiring process, offered tools for project management and communication, and provided a secure payment system. In 2014, it merged with oDesk to form Upwork, which continues to serve as a major global marketplace for freelance work. Elance’s success helped shape the gig economy and digital freelance industry by making remote work more accessible and efficient.