The Digital Workforce Development Initiative

As a global community empowering entrepreneurship, we recognize the need to create more education, access and opportunity. This necessity became even more clear when we discovered new details about the United States’ freelance economy. We found that while opportunity is out there, it’s not being accessed by everyone.

Click here to see the results of our research in Fiverr's Freelance Economy Impact Report. Thus, the Digital Workforce Development Initiative (DWDI) was born. The DWDI is a multi-city pilot program designed to support local economies by bringing the necessary tools for success in freelance and independent work to a more diverse population.

DWDI is a coalition of companies and communities that provides training and support for specialized independent workers in the new economy.[/caption]Launching in Memphis, Kansas City, Richmond, CA and Stockton, the DWDI was created by Fiverr and includes Udemy and Samaschool, two other leading players in the development and growth of entrepreneurship, independent work, and the skilled freelance economy.

Together, our goal is to grow and support the local independent economies of our pilot cities while demonstrating that freelance and independent work can be a sustainable, achievable, and rewarding career for many. With programs beginning in the late Spring and stretching out over the summer, The DWDI is comprised of:

• Free in-person workshops, seminars and networking events
• A mentorship program that pairs top sellers on Fiverr with individuals who are just starting out as freelancers
• A specially-curated series of comprehensive classes covering every aspect of starting up and running your own business or consultancy, all available online via Udemy
• Additional online master courses in specific skill sets popular in today’s freelance and services economy (i.e. graphic design, web development, video and audio editing, etc)
• Accelerated on-boarding to the Fiverr platform, allowing freelancers to begin growing their portfolio and earning potential immediately

To learn more about the program and the courses offered by Udemy, visit the DWDI site.

‍Have questions about our Digital Workforce Development Initiative? Ask us in the comments below!