Building robust web and mobile applications quickly is complex and resource intensive. In many cases this is simply not viable for smaller companies as they do not have the human capital nor the cash flow to afford the right developers. Creating significant problems in business innovation.

Gigster wants to change that, they want to revolutionize the software industry through democratizing access to great software at affordable prices. It follows a service-for-hire business model, whereby customers plainly indicate what they want to get developed and at what price. Gigster then connects them to the most appropriate developer who has the right skill set. Simultaneously, Gigsters softwares creates pre-written code based on keywords of the customer’s proposal, through its AI based technology. This makes the job easier and quicker for the freelancers, saving both time and money for the customer and effort from the developer.

Gigster has many professional developers in its network including MIT, Stanford and Caltech graduates. So far they have executed over 80 projects for large conglomerates like google and square to smaller incubator backed startups. Andreesen Horowitz one of the largest VC funds in Silicon Valley invested $10 million in Gigster after just having come out of the Y-combinator accelerator program two years earlier in 2013.

Gigster is here to stay, through an innovative business model that combines smart recommendation systems with a pay as you want scheme, they provide access to affordable personalized and creative web and mobile applications.

Their business model can best be described as an economic multi-sided platform; the developer side of the network grows through an invite only strategy, this ensures the quality of the applicants and motivates the network to be organically grown. Currently they have over 700 developers, 300 product managers and 100 designers, people inside the network refer to them as “Gigsters”. Gisgsters have studied at respected intuitions and have worked at large conglomerates. This in turn also helps feed the demand side of the platform, as current developers already have existing experience with client certain clients providing a seal of approval for the platform itself.

The platform performs many functions and ensures joint profitability across the value chain. The platform provides high quality web applications at competitive prices, and provides interesting, well earning work for developers across the world. The platform is capable of reducing the overall costs for all stakeholders through its AI machine learning technology increasing the systems welfare, by reducing time spent designing and building the application. Gigster has created a strong institutional environment to mediate the network, by an invite only method of developers the platform ensures a form of social control through reputational and relational elements. There are also forms of contractual ownership that is managed by a team of customer experience Gigsters, they develop the system requirements and mediate contract relations between the customer and the developer. Intellectual property rights are strongly protected, Gigster even requires customers to sign a non disclosure agreement before signing up.

Will companies ever need developers again? How viable is this business model in the long run?