Four years ago, I learned that in Belgium, I could work as a freelancer in 'bijberoep', allowing me to run a side business alongside my main job to increase my income.

That discovery gave me hope.

Like many, I wanted to build something of my own. My goal was to grow carefully and step by step. I expected finding freelance work to be challenging, but achievable.

I was wrong...

I searched extensively for a platform where freelancers and businesses could connect in a reliable, trustworthy way. Initially, I was optimistic when I found well-known international platforms and believed I had found the solution.

However, I was soon disappointed.

I found a system that often rewards visibility over value. Algorithms determine visibility, bidding drives prices down, and freelancers may pay fees before securing work. When paid, additional platform and transfer fees further reduce their earnings.

It was not acceptable..

What was most discouraging was the lack of a platform designed specifically for European freelancers and SMEs, which reflects our reality!

Meanwhile, freelancers were and still are searching for work through Facebook groups and informal spaces, where it is difficult to verify genuine hiring parties, job types, or even whether someone is a legitimate professional. This creates risks for freelancers, as they may not get paid or accept a non-secure job offer that could bring them into money-laundering scams.

This situation left me frustrated for a long time.

Eventually, I decided to take action and build the solution myself rather than wait for someone else.

That is how VirtualMasst was born.

VirtualMasst is my effort to create a better solution: a platform where freelancers, consultants, and SMEs can connect directly, discuss real projects, and hire with greater trust and less distraction.

Our core principles are:

I am building it because it is needed.

I have built VirtualMasst with my own savings, investing my time, energy, and personal resources to bring it to life. I believed in this vision enough to fund it myself and advance it to the MVP stage.

Today, I have reached a point where I can no longer support its growth financially on my own. This is why I am seeking your support.

Why I am raising €100,000

I am raising €100,000 to give VirtualMasst the runway it needs for the next urgent phase: growing from MVP, improving traction, and strengthening the platform.

At this stage, the urgency is: marketing and maintenance.

Without visibility, the right freelancers and SMEs will not find the platform. Without maintenance, the platform cannot grow in a stable and professional way.

How the €100,000 will be used in this phase

Marketing & visibility — €60,000

To reach freelancers, consultants, and SMEs across Belgium and Europe, and bring the right users to the platform.

This includes:

* awareness campaigns

* content creation and distribution

* outreach to freelancer and SME communities

* launch and growth support activities

* testing and improving what actually brings users

Platform maintenance & technical support — €30,000

To keep VirtualMasst stable, secure, and usable while we grow from MVP.

This includes:

* ongoing maintenance

* bug fixes

* performance and reliability improvements

* technical support and monitoring

* essential updates needed to keep the platform running professionally

product improvements & onboarding enhancements — €10,000

To improve user experience and strengthen the onboarding journey for freelancers and SMEs.

This includes:

* small UX improvements

* onboarding flow improvements

* clearer user guidance

* verification/onboarding enhancements (where applicable)

Goal: keep the platform user-friendly

To be transparent:

€100,000 will not cover the full cost of building a fully customised platform. What it will do is fund the most urgent priorities right now — visibility, maintenance, and essential improvements — so VirtualMasst can grow, gain traction, and reach the next stage with proof in the market. That proof is what will help unlock the next round of support needed for a full custom platform build.

What comes next

Once VirtualMasst achieves stronger traction and stability, the next step will be to raise additional funding to build a fully customised platform to support long-term scale across Europe. This campaign will help us get there.

I truly believe we can do better for freelancers and SMEs in Europe.

We can build a platform that supports real self-employed professionals.

We can make hiring more transparent.

We can reduce , fake profiles, and unfair practices.

We can create something that reflects European business values: trust, compliance, and more.. But I cannot do the next stage alone.

How can you help?

If this mission speaks to you, please support VirtualMasst.

No contribution is too small. Even a small amount helps move this project forward.

And if you cannot contribute financially, sharing this fundraiser with people who care about freelancers, entrepreneurship, and SMEs in Europe would also mean a lot.

Thank you for reading.

Thank you for believing.

And thank you for helping me prove that we can do better for freelancers and SMEs in Europe.

Assumpta Tabaro