Expert360

Expert360 operates as an online marketplace headquartered in Sydney, Australia, that connects businesses with independent consultants for project-based work. The company was founded in 2013 by Bridget Loudon and Emily Yue, both former consultants at Bain & Company. Their experience at Bain revealed a market need for companies to easily access top-tier talent for specific projects without the overhead of traditional consulting firms, and for professionals to have more flexible work arrangements.

Bridget Loudon, an Australian native who grew up on a sheep farm in Ireland, had entrepreneurial experience before Bain, having exited a wholesale apparel business at age twenty. This background in both entrepreneurship and high-level consulting provided the analytical and disciplined approach necessary to launch Expert360. In August 2020, Loudon's business acumen was recognized with an appointment to the board of Telstra, making her the youngest independent director of an ASX20-listed company.

The platform serves a wide range of clients, from small and medium-sized enterprises to large corporations like Woolworths and Telstra. It caters to businesses needing expertise in areas such as management consulting, finance, marketing, HR, and technology. The business model is centered on its marketplace, which facilitates the connection between clients and a vetted network of over 30,000 professionals. Revenue is generated primarily through a commission-based model, taking a percentage of the project fees, which can range from 15% to 20%. The platform offers both pay-per-project and subscription-based pricing. It streamlines the entire engagement process, from talent sourcing and vetting to managing contracts, billing, and payments. A key feature is its rigorous screening process, with only about one in ten applicants being approved, ensuring a high-caliber talent pool for clients.

Since its inception, Expert360 has raised a total of $21M over three funding rounds, including a Series B round of $10.2M in 2017 led by AirTree Ventures. The company expanded its global reach by opening an office in New York City in 2016 and later acquired New Zealand's LPS in 2021 to solidify its presence in the Australia and New Zealand markets. Keywords: freelance marketplace, management consulting, on-demand talent, contingent workforce, project-based work, independent consultants, human capital, talent management, skilled talent network, professional services