For freelancers
Getting your first task on LiftOff
Your first task on LiftOff is the one that gets your track record started — and it's more within your control than you might think. Because LiftOff matches on fit rather than bids, a strong, complete profile is what puts you in front of the right startups.
This page walks through getting set up: completing your profile, verifying who you are, and understanding exactly how registering interest and shortlists work so you know what a startup sees when they choose.
Start with a complete profile
Before you're matched to anything, your profile needs to give the matching engine — and startups — something to work with. Fill in your skills, style and availability accurately; these are what the AI-powered matching engine reads when deciding which tasks to invite you to.
Then make the profile itself persuasive. A portfolio that shows the kind of work you want, a clear summary of what you do, and up-to-date details all help a startup choose you with confidence once you're on their shortlist.
Verify, then understand how interest and shortlists work
Verifying your identity adds an ID-verification badge to your profile. This matters especially for your first task, when you don't yet have LiftOff ratings behind you: startups choosing from a shortlist consistently favour verified freelancers, so verification helps make up for a thin early track record.
Here's the flow itself. When a startup posts a task, the matching engine invites suitable freelancers; you register your interest, and you can then appear on the startup's curated shortlist of up to five interested freelancers. The startup picks from that shortlist — looking at your profile, portfolio, verification and ratings — with no bidding involved. When they approve your delivered work, your payout is released through Stripe Connect.
Your first-task setup checklist
Complete every part of your profile
Fill in your skills, availability, summary and portfolio fully. An incomplete profile gives both the matching engine and startups less to go on — and less reason to pick you.
Verify your identity for the badge
The ID-verification badge is one of the strongest trust signals available to a new freelancer with no ratings yet. It's worth doing before you register interest in your first task.
Lead your portfolio with your best, most relevant work
Put the pieces that match the tasks you want first. A startup deciding between shortlisted freelancers is judging on the evidence you show them.
Register interest promptly on tasks that fit
When you're invited to a task that suits you, registering your interest is what puts you in the running for the shortlist. Acting on good-fit invitations is how your first task arrives.
Complete your LiftOff profile, verify your identity, and register interest in your first matched task.