When Hillary Bush made the decision to transition from a secure full-time job at MasterClass to pursue self-employment, she encountered a challenging landscape filled with scams, deceptive practices, and a lack of reliable SEO strategies. This reality struck a chord with her, especially considering the growing number of Americans who identify as freelancers—reaching 60 million in 2022—and the strong desire among two-thirds of Gen Z and Millennials to work independently, as Bush shared with TechCrunch.
Motivated by this predicament, Bush founded Pollen, a professional membership platform designed for individuals already engaged in or aspiring to have independent careers. Pollen provides its members with exclusive access to valuable business advice and a supportive network comprising like-minded peers and mentors, all geared towards fostering business growth.
Bush explained, “If you’re a freelancer and you’re venturing away from the safety and security of a full-time job or school, you’re essentially on your own. Many individuals are leaving approximately 30% of their potential income untapped due to a lack of business training. Without a mentor, manager, or blueprint, and without granting themselves promotions, they are true entrepreneurs.”
In creating Pollen, Bush aimed to provide users with the business coaching experience they longed for, along with the opportunity to connect with peers, mentors, and potential collaborators. The platform offers a range of features, including numerous playbooks and templates, as well as access to weekly job opportunities.
Pollen’s private network offers two membership options: annual and monthly, with the annual subscription priced slightly above $1,000. Members gain access to various benefits, such as over $100,000 worth of discounts on business tools, freelancer resources, and coaching sessions. The platform already boasts an impressive roster of more than 15 active mentors.
Today, the company officially launches its platform, catering to a substantial waitlist, while also announcing $4 million in funding from prominent investors including Animo VC, Founder Collective, XYZ, Precursor Ventures, and a group of angel investors.
With the new funding, Bush plans to propel Pollen into its next phase, focusing on expanding both the platform itself and its team of employees. The company is currently hiring for positions within its community and engineering teams, as well as for content-related roles.
Bush expressed her excitement about the launch, stating, “This is a significant milestone for our business. We firmly believe that everyone should have access to top-tier resources and the ability to build their network. For those pursuing self-employment, Pollen is the place to be. With the recent surge in layoffs and the subsequent reevaluation of work’s role in people’s lives, there is a strong demand for a support system, whether individuals voluntarily choose this path or were forced into it. We are here to guide you through every phase of your business journey, from diversifying your income streams to creating new products, and ultimately, powering the future of work.”
