When I joined Upwork in 2020, freelancing was just a side hustle. I was exploring, testing, and slowly building my client base. By 2023–2024, freelancing became my full-time career, a leap that completely changed how I managed projects, built trust, and delivered results for global clients.
But what’s fascinating is that my journey sits inside a much bigger story of Upwork’s evolution.
The Evolution of Upwork
The platform we know today as Upwork didn’t start as Upwork.
- 2012 (oDesk) → Back then, oDesk was one of the first platforms connecting businesses with remote freelancers.
- 2013 (oDesk + Elance) → oDesk merged with Elance to form Elance-oDesk.
- 2015 (Upwork) → Rebranded into Upwork, which soon became the world’s largest freelancing marketplace.
- 2025 (Lifted) → On August 19, 2025, Upwork launched Lifted, an enterprise subsidiary, focused on helping large organizations hire, manage, and pay their global workforce in a compliant way.
So from oDesk → Elance-oDesk → Upwork → Lifted, the journey is one of constant reinvention.
Why Upwork Lifted enterprise subsidiary Matters
Upwork has always been about connecting talent and businesses, but Lifted takes this a step further:
- Built for Enterprises
Lifted is not just a new feature, it’s a standalone company under Upwork, designed to manage enterprise-level compliance, payments, and workforce operations. - Powered by Acquisitions
Lifted leverages Bubty (workforce management) and Ascen (EOR solution) to provide seamless systems for global hiring. - No More Trade-Offs
Speed, scale, flexibility, and compliance now work together, instead of forcing enterprises to compromise. - Unmatched Talent Pool
Enterprises can directly access Upwork’s global marketplace, including 250,000+ AI experts and countless other specialists.
For freelancers, this means new opportunities with large companies who previously weren’t fully utilizing platforms like Upwork. For enterprises, it’s about scaling without friction.
My Perspective as a Freelancer:
From joining Upwork in 2020, going full-time in 2023–24, now watching the launch of Lifted in 2025, I’ve lived both the personal growth side and witnessed the platform’s transformation.
This evolution tells me one thing: the future of freelancing is only getting bigger. Platforms like Upwork are no longer just for side projects—they’re becoming critical infrastructure for how businesses hire and scale.
Official Release by Upwork here; https://www.upwork.com/press/releases/upwork-inc-introduces-lifted-a-subsidiary-serving-enterprises-with-full-suite-of-contingent-workforce-solutions
The journey from oDesk → Elance → Upwork → Lifted shows how freelancing has moved from being “just online gigs” to powering enterprise-level solutions.
And here’s the good part: if you’re a business looking to grow, you don’t need to wait for the “future of work.” You can already tap into it today.
I help businesses scale through Google Ads & SEO, driving real growth with strategies that actually work.
If you’re ready to grow, you can hire me directly on Upwork. Contact Imran Nadir