Story of Braintrust: decentralized network connecting professionals with companies needing their expertise
Story of Braintrust:
The Birth of Braintrust
Founded in 2018 in San Francisco, California,
Braintrust was created with one bold mission: to reshape how companies and
skilled professionals connect. Unlike traditional staffing models that take a
significant share of freelancers’ earnings, Braintrust envisioned a user-owned,
blockchain-powered platform where talent keeps 100% of what they earn.
A Decentralized Talent Network
At the heart of Braintrust is its decentralized
marketplace, designed to connect freelancers directly with companies. By
cutting out middlemen, the platform reduces costs for employers and ensures
that workers receive fair compensation for their expertise.
The Power of Blockchain
Braintrust operates on a blockchain-based model,
using its native token, BTRST, to encourage growth and community
governance. This approach creates transparency in transactions and gives users
ownership in shaping the network’s future.
A Mission Beyond Jobs
Braintrust believes that great talent is an asset, not an
expense. Its mission is not only to match professionals with high-quality
work but also to provide opportunities for them to earn, learn, and grow.
The platform offers stipends for education, wellness, and technology, showing
its commitment to professional development and work-life balance.
Building a User-Owned Marketplace
Braintrust has grown into the world’s largest user-owned
professional network, with over 700,000 members worldwide. Members
are empowered through the BTRST token, gaining voting rights and rewards for
participating in governance and contributing to the ecosystem’s growth.
Story of Braintrust: decentralized network connecting professionals with companies needing their expertise#startup#age#net worth#investor#entrepreneur
Revolutionizing Hiring with AI
One of Braintrust’s standout innovations is Braintrust
AIR, an AI-powered recruiting platform. AIR dramatically reduces hiring
timelines from months to days by instantly matching companies with vetted
candidates and even conducting initial phone screens. This tool makes talent
acquisition professionals far more effective while cutting recruitment costs.
Trusted by Global Brands
Braintrust’s reputation quickly spread among top
enterprises. Global giants like Nestlé, Porsche, Atlassian, Goldman Sachs,
and Nike have all trusted the platform to find highly skilled
professionals, particularly in areas like technology, design, marketing, and
Web3.
Expanding into Web3 Talent
As Web3 technologies gained momentum, Braintrust became a
hub for blockchain developers, smart contract engineers, and NFT specialists.
Its growing network of experts allowed companies to scale projects in emerging
fields while professionals accessed lucrative opportunities in cutting-edge
industries.
Backing from Investors
Braintrust’s model and growth potential attracted major
investors. The company raised $24 million in Series A funding from
Coatue Management, Duro Ventures, and 3X Capital. Later, in 2021,
Braintrust raised $100 million through a private token sale, reinforcing
investor confidence in its decentralized and community-owned approach.
The Future of Work
With nearly 200 employees and a global network
spanning hundreds of thousands of professionals, Braintrust is building more
than a job marketplace—it is creating a future of work where
opportunities are distributed fairly, intermediaries are eliminated, and
professionals truly own their careers.
Timeline of Braintrust’s Journey
- 2018
– Braintrust founded in San Francisco by Adam Jackson and Gabriel
Luna-Ostaseski.
- 2019
– Platform launches as a decentralized, user-owned professional network.
- 2020
– Gains traction as more freelancers and companies adopt the model.
- 2021
(Early) – Raises $24M Series A funding from Coatue Management,
Duro Ventures, and 3X Capital.
- 2021
(Mid) – Conducts $100M private token sale of BTRST, boosting
growth and governance.
- 2021–2022
– Expands globally, reaching hundreds of thousands of members.
- 2022
– Launches Braintrust AIR, the AI recruiting platform.
- 2023
– Network surpasses 700,000 members worldwide.
- 2024–2025
– Trusted by Fortune 1000 enterprises like Nestlé, Porsche, Atlassian,
Goldman Sachs, and Nike, while continuing to scale in Web3 hiring.
