techstartups – SkilledUp Life
A human capital platform powering startup execution, the last frontier for humans.
66,000+
Volunteers
148
Countries
215+
Tech startups helped
5+ yrs
In operation
Turning ideas into growth stories.
Whether you are building the next big venture-backed thing or a scalable tech startup in your own way, SkilledUp Life connects ambition with opportunity.
Cut the noise, stay in control and focus on what actually matters, your customers and your revenue. Operate like a venture-backed company by building a full team of SkilledUp Lifers. Start small, learn fast, deploy for results.
Solo & lean Customer-funded
De-risk before the investor chase: validate the idea, ship the product, generate early revenue and prove your growth metrics first. Walk in already de-risked and negotiate equity terms from a position of strength.
De-risked Better terms
Reach your next round faster. Extend the runway, dodge the down round and deploy up to 100 SkilledUp Lifers across sales, marketing, product and customer success, moving the metrics that matter, without the overhead, hiring delays or burn.
Series A+ Up to 100 hands
Trusted by ambitious tech startups.
SkilledUp Life is the talent engine powering startup execution globally.
+200
From idea validation to GTM and beyond.
Whether you are a first-time solo founder with an idea or a seasoned entrepreneur who has raised before starting, we have a plan for you.
1 Stage: Idea.
Build a validation team to systematically validate your tech startup idea before diving in head first and getting burnt out. Conduct customer development, home in on your ideal customer and work out the solution and product map.
Team of up to 15 · validate before you build
2 Stage: Product.
Having validated the idea systematically, build a full product team to turn vision into reality. Take a top-down approach (recruit a product manager first) or bottom-up (recruit UI/UX designers and developers first).
Up to 25 · turn vision into a real product
3 Stage: GTM.
Start building your Go-To-Market team: demand generation and brand building (marketing), customer acquisition and conversion (sales) and customer success, as the product gets closer to release.
Up to 100 · take it to market & grow
How SkilledUp Life works.
Three simple steps to accelerate the growth of your tech startup.
Create your account
Sign up, select a pricing plan, subscribe and build your company profile. Share your compelling tech startup story to inspire Volunteers to join your team. Add your social media profiles and senior management team.
Find your match
Use templates to post Volunteer Opportunities and add a Pre-Qualification Questionnaire. Respond to applicants and headhunt from the 66,000+ Volunteer list using Category, Skills, Country and language filters.
Build together
Interview and issue the Volunteer Agreement before commencing a Term. Start with HR and Executive Assistant Volunteers, then build out teams. Speak to us about designing your optimum organisation.
Want the nitty-gritty? We wrote it down.
From your very first hire to a 100-strong organisation, every step to attract, onboard, lead and grow teams of motivated Volunteers, in detail.
Read the step-by-step guide → 8 steps · idea validation → go-to-market
What's included in every account.
Giving every tech entrepreneur an equal footing to start, grow and scale.
No restrictions
Reach any of the 66,000+ SkilledUp Lifers through direct messaging and invite them to apply for your listed Opportunities. Use Category and Skills filters.
No extra costs
You only subscribe to use our service. You never pay for Volunteers, and you are strictly prohibited from financially compensating them. There are absolutely no other fees.
Volunteer Agreement
No volunteering takes place without both parties signing a Volunteer Agreement, covering Intellectual Property (IP), Non-Disclosure and terms of engagement.
Platform Dashboard
Keep your company profile updated, find the most-fit Volunteers and manage Opportunities and Applicants through your SkilledUp Life Dashboard.
Knowledge Base
Comprehensive guides and best practices ensure you get the maximum value from your subscription, from first listing to full org.
Support
Dedicated support to help you maximise value and build fast. Larger plans include guidance on designing the optimum tech startup organisation.
From bootstrapped to venture-backed.
Version 1 helped over 200 tech startups. Version 2, built by our SkilledUp Lifers, went live in February 2026, the foundation to help you achieve your ambition faster.
"I've come to realise that my team of SkilledUp Life Volunteers is what will propel me to the next level. While some will choose to move on, those who extend their commitment are absolute gold."
Michael Livingston
Founder & CEO, DustID
"SkilledUp Life was a great way to punch above our weight by acting as a force multiplier, giving us access to talent that a fledgling startup like ours would never normally get access to."
Thomas Ballin
Co-Founder, Cytix
"So far we have partnered with some amazing people, with fantastic work ethics and ambition. I tell all of the tech founders on my accelerator about SkilledUp Life. I'm positive you'll see them sign up soon."
Adam Botterill
CEO, Equal Employer
Questions, answered.
Do get in touch if your query is not addressed here.
Do I pay for Volunteers in addition to the subscription?
Absolutely not. Once subscribed, Volunteers are completely free. Your subscription covers publishing Volunteer Opportunities, dashboard access and support. You are not allowed to offer payments or benefits in kind to Volunteers, or make promises of future paid engagement during recruitment or volunteering.
Is there a free plan or free trial?
No. SkilledUp Life is a Human Capital Platform, not a standard software product, as we deal with humans. You need to select a pricing plan, subscribe and build your company profile before you can post Volunteer Opportunities. We would rather collaborate with founders who understand the potential benefit and take the time to leverage our skilled Volunteers.
Could any business sign up and subscribe?
No. Only tech companies building scalable digital products can benefit from SkilledUp Life. eCommerce companies and marketplaces are allowed. If a business is developing a scalable digital product it qualifies; a service business does not.
What businesses are excluded?
Service businesses including consultancies and agencies such as digital marketing, software development and digital transformation companies do not qualify. Manufacturing and engineering companies are excluded as well. If in doubt, please ask before signing up and subscribing.
How many Volunteers can I recruit?
It depends on your stage and plan. Start with a validation team of up to 15 at the idea stage, build a product team of up to 25, and deploy up to 100 SkilledUp Lifers across marketing, sales and customer success as you go to market.
Can I start without signing a Volunteer Agreement?
No. After successfully recruiting a Volunteer, no activity should take place before both parties sign a Volunteer Agreement covering terms of engagement, Intellectual Property and non-disclosure.
What is a Volunteer Term?
Up to a maximum of 3 hours per day, Monday to Friday, for 60 Volunteer Days over a 3 month Volunteer Agreement.
Can the subscription be cancelled any time?
Yes. After the end of the current subscription period (month or year, depending on the plan you chose), no further payments will be taken once you have cancelled. See the full pricing plans for details.
Ready to start your tech startup journey with us?
Join hundreds of tech founders and tens of thousands of volunteer professionals helping startups build and grow worldwide. Create your account in 30 seconds.