Antler is thrilled to announce the addition of Sorbet to its esteemed portfolio! Sorbet is transforming the freelance landscape by integrating innovative workflow solutions with a cutting-edge Web3-enabled payment platform, facilitating seamless cross-border collaboration for freelancers worldwide.
🌶 Why Sorbet Matters
The freelance market is rife with challenges:
- High Platform Fees: 85% of freelancers avoid using marketplace platforms due to exorbitant fees.
- Low Visibility and Viable Work Opportunities: Many platforms fail to provide sufficient visibility and viable job opportunities for freelancers.
- Delayed Payments: A staggering 74% of freelancers report not being paid on time.
🌟 Sorbet’s Game-Changing Solutions
Sorbet addresses these pain points with a suite of powerful features:
- Instant Global Payments: Freelancers receive payments instantly upon milestone completion.
- 0% Freelancer Fee: Sorbet eliminates fees for freelancers, ensuring they retain their hard-earned money.
- Secured Transactions: Utilizing milestone-based escrow smart contracts on the NEAR Blockchain, Sorbet guarantees secure and reliable transactions.
👨💼 Meet the Founders
- Rami Djebari: A blockchain and arts enthusiast with valuable experience at Deloitte’s OMNIA AI.
- Maher Ayari: An expert in VC-backed startups, fintech operations, and data consultancy.
Located in The Garage | الكــراج in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Sorbet is poised to make a significant impact on the freelance industry. Antler is proud to support Sorbet’s mission to empower freelancers and streamline the freelance economy.
Sorbet is more than just another freelance platform; it introduces a significant shift in the creator economy by focusing on the needs of professionals with an added layer of security and privacy underpinned by blockchain technology. With features designed to enhance client relationships and expedite payments, Sorbet operates without freelancer fees, removing third-party intermediaries for a more direct and equitable workflow.
According to the 2023 GLMC report, 75% of global businesses faced challenges in sourcing new hires with the right talents. Sorbet addresses these critical issues, including inconsistent job stability, delayed payments, and disjointed communication and project tracking. This not only streamlines the professional experience for freelancers but also improves service delivery for clients, creating a reliable and cohesive ecosystem for all parties involved.
Sorbet’s Role in the MENA Region’s Digital Economy
In a significant boost to the MENA region’s burgeoning digital economy, Antler, a leading venture fund, has announced a strategic investment in Sorbet, the Web3 platform building the frameworks for the future of work in the Middle East.
In 2022, the economic output of the MENA region reached $4.43 trillion, with its gross domestic product (GDP) projected by the World Bank to rise by 2.7% in 2024. Amidst this economic growth, the digital freelance market, valued at $4 billion, is experiencing rapid expansion. However, this sector confronts significant payment system challenges. Many of the region’s 40 million self-employed workers find themselves marginalized by the limitations of traditional financial services, often having to depend on costly and inefficient remittance methods like Western Union.
Addressing this gap, Sorbet introduces a transformative approach to global payment with a client workflow and CRM tool while utilizing blockchain technology to facilitate stablecoin-based remittances. Sorbet offers a seamless alternative to conventional payment and remittance hurdles, even for the unbanked, who now can access payments globally with DeFi gateways. Additionally, the integration of smart contracts ensures that transactions are secure and transparent, revolutionizing the way freelancers connect with global opportunities and contributing to their professional and economic advancement.
Sorbet was founded by two technologically savvy friends, Rami Djebari and Maher Ayari, who both are passionate about the creative economy and have a profound background in fields relevant to the success of the startup in the region. Rami, a seasoned freelance blockchain developer, combines his technical and creative acumen with Maher Ayari who has substantial experience in entrepreneurship, and business development. Together, they are uniquely positioned to address the specific challenges faced by freelancers in the MENA region, leveraging their combined expertise to spearhead growth and innovation at Sorbet.
“We’re thrilled to receive a strategic investment from Antler. With this support, we aim to accelerate development and our go-to-market strategy, empowering creatives in the MENA region and beyond through our Web3-enabled freelancer operating system. This partnership marks a significant milestone in dissolving borders, enabling instantaneous payments, and unlocking limitless opportunities for growth in the future of work,” said Rami Djebari, co-founder of Sorbet.
Antler’s investment in Sorbet underscores a shared commitment to fostering innovation and supporting the freelance community’s growth, ensuring a brighter and more equitable future for freelancers around the world.
