Eneco Ventures and Impuls Zeeland Invest in Lance Free, the Innovative Platform Bridging the Gap Between Technical Freelancers and Companies

Eneco Ventures and Impuls Zeeland Invest in Lance Free, the Innovative Platform Bridging the Gap Between Technical Freelancers and Companies

(IN BRIEF) Eneco Ventures and Impuls Zeeland are investing in Lance Free, a platform that matches technical freelancers with companies in the construction and engineering sectors. Lance Free’s online marketplace simplifies collaboration by connecting businesses with self-employed workers, addressing challenges like limited capacity and high costs associated with intermediaries. With plans to achieve a turnover of over 75 million euros in projects by 2026, the investment will be used to improve software, expand marketing, and grow the team. The collaboration aligns with Lance Free’s mission to bridge the gap in skilled technical staffing and support innovation in response to the energy transition, as Eneco Ventures also plans to utilize the platform for recruiting freelancers in its heat pump installation division.

(PRESS RELEASE) ROTTERDAM, 6-Oct-2023 — /EuropaWire/ — For technical companies, there has been a shortage of technically skilled staff for some time, partly due to the demand for solutions such as solar panels and heat pumps as a result of the energy transition. Lance Free,a platform that matches technical companies with technical freelancers, is addressing this issue. Eneco Ventures is investing in this start-up, along with the Zeeland Participation Fund (ZPF) from Impuls Zeeland.

“Thanks to the energy transition, Lance Free has experienced significant growth recently. Given our ambitious goals and our focus on innovation relating to the way freelance professionals in the construction and engineering sector operate, we have decided to accelerate our growth plans. With Impuls Zeeland and Eneco Ventures as partners, we have found a strong combination of capital, expertise and an extensive network to realise our growth ambitions,” says founder and CEO Oscar Meijerink.

In the current labour market, companies in construction and engineering are increasingly working with self-employed workers. However, this can sometimes be challenging due to factors such as limited capacity, complicated structures involving intermediaries and employment agencies and high costs. This is where Lance Free’s online platform offers a solution. The company connects businesses and freelancers in the construction and engineering sectors.

Lance Free acts as a marketplace where companies can post their projects, with two available options: projects with an hourly rate and unit-based projects. The platform then automatically matches suitable freelancers to the projects through smart algorithms or actively searches for those freelancers through targeted marketing. Through the platform, companies and freelancers can collaborate more easily and efficiently.  More than 20,000 self-employed people have already registered on Lance Free.

Lance Free aims to achieve a turnover of over 75 million euros in projects from construction and technical companies by 2026. The investment from Eneco Ventures and Impuls Zeeland will be used to achieve this goal by improving the software, strengthening marketing and expanding the team.

Impuls Zeeland helps entrepreneurs, among other things, to finance innovative plans for societal challenges. This can be achieved through various funds, including the Zeeuws Participatiefonds fund. Impuls Zeeland not only acts as a lender in these cases, but provides active input and is committed to the development and growth of the company by offering guidance and access to Impuls’ extensive network.

Edwin van Houte, Investment Manager at Impuls Zeeland, emphasises: “Lance Free is a platform that has the potential for substantial growth and effectively addresses current developments related to the energy transition and labour market shortages. We are pleased that this promising company is based in the province of Zeeland and we look forward to working with Oscar and his team and Eneco Ventures to further develop the company.”

Eneco sees the potential of Lance Free and is therefore excited to be able to help the company with its further growth plans. Furthermore, the energy company’s installation division will also start using Lance Free’s services to recruit freelancers.

Eneco director of Home Energy Joris de Groot is looking forward to the collaboration: “Eneco is growing fast in installation of heat pumps in customers’ homes. Fulfilling our customer promise of ‘We’re on it. Now’ naturally involves a fast and high-quality installation. The professionals we need for this are scarce. That is why we are working hard to find new ways to engage them, and this collaboration is contributing to this.”

Media Contact:

Marnix Heijboer
Woordvoerder
marnix.heijboer@eneco.com
0651579851

SOURCE: Eneco