Elance and oDesk Announce Merger That Would Create Freelancing Giant

In a move that will consolidate much of the freelance economy in a single corporate entity, online freelance work platforms Elance and oDesk announced their intent to merge, forming a new company with a yet-to-be-determined name.

The resulting company will lay claim to more than 8 million freelancers and 2 million businesses in more than 180 countries, according to a release issued by Elance. Elance and oDesk will continue to exist as separate platforms even after the merger, though no longer as rivals.

The companies anticipate that joining forces will allow them to improve technical issues, such as matching professionals with relevant jobs, while streamlining internal processes and scaling their business.

"Just as Amazon reinvented retail, and Apple iTunes transformed the music industry, we will greatly improve how businesses hire and people work online," Elance chief executive Fabio Rosati said in the release. "This merger will create unprecedented access and flexibility for people to find job opportunities regardless of their location, and will allow businesses of all sizes to more easily access the best available talent."

Read more: http://www.entrepreneur.com/article/230496