Basil

Basil

Early Stage

Powering the future of freelance

Powering the future of freelance

Overview

Raised to Date: Raised: $51,494

Total Commitments ($USD)

Platform

Wefunder

Start Date

08/02/2023

Close Date

04/15/2024

Min. Goal
$25,000
Max. Goal
$124,000
Min. Investment

$100

Security Type

SAFE

Series

Seed

SEC Filing Type

RegCF    Open SEC Filing

Early Bird Val. Cap

$4,000,000

Valuation Cap

$5,000,000

Discount

0%

Rolling Commitments ($USD)

Status
Funded
Reporting Date

04/29/2024

Days Remaining
Funded
% of Min. Goal
Funded
% of Max. Goal
Funded
Likelihood of Max
Funded
Avg. Daily Raise

$201

# of Investors

27

Momentum
Funded
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Year Founded

2019

Industry

Business Services, Software, & Applications

Tech Sector

EnterpriseTech

Distribution Model

B2B/B2C

Margin

High

Capital Intensity

Low

Location

BOSTON, Massachusetts

Business Type

High Growth

Basil, with a valuation of $5 million, is raising funds on Wefunder. The company has developed a platform for freelancers to build and manage their relationships with their clients. Basil is building an integrated platform for freelancers and clients to work together and set up proposals, contracts, payments, and bookings with a seamless checkout flow. The beta version of Basil has been launched and has 300 users and expects to generate $225,000 in project revenue with 84% year-over-year growth. Connor Murdock and Dan Gilligan founded Basil in September 2019. The current crowdfunding campaign has a minimum target of $50,000 and a maximum target of $124,000. The campaign proceeds will be used for founders’ salaries, marketing, and general and administrative expenses.

Summary Profit and Loss Statement

FY 2022 FY 2021

Revenue

$95,362

$24,179

COGS

$0

$0

Tax

$0

$0

 

 

Net Income

$-32,555

$-15,672

Summary Balance Sheet

FY 2022 FY 2021

Cash

$14,034

$33,342

Accounts Receivable

$0

$0

Total Assets

$59,941

$45,905

Short-Term Debt

$5,360

$2,800

Long-Term Debt

$54,581

$43,105

Total Liabilities

$59,941

$45,905

Financials as of: 08/02/2023
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Analyst Report

Synopsis

Freelancing has become a significant part of the global economy, and the trend is growing. However, freelance work can be challenging to manage, especially when building and maintaining client relationships. Freelancers often struggle with managing proposals, contracts, payments, and bookings, leading to missed opportunities and financial instability.

Basil is a company that aims to address these issues by providing a platform for freelancers to manage their relationships with clients. Basil's platform allows freelancers and clients to work together seamlessly, setting up proposals, contracts, payments, and bookings with a smooth checkout flow. The company has already launched a beta version of the platform, which has attracted 300 users and is expected to generate $225,000 in project revenue with 84% year-over-year growth. The platform is designed to make freelancing easier and more profitable, helping freelancers focus on their work rather than administrative tasks.

Next Section: Price

Price

Basil is raising funds on Wefunder at a valuation of $5 million. While the company has made progress with its beta version and gained traction with 300 users, the valuation appears to be higher. With an annual revenue of $95,362, the valuation represents a 52x revenue multiple, which is high for a company in the pre-profit stage.

Investors should also consider that Basil is operating in a competitive market, the US Freelance Platforms Market, where established players like Upwork and Fiverr dominate. Basil must differentiate itself and capture a significant market share to justify its valuation. Additionally, the lack of partnerships and notable investors raises concerns about the company's ability to scale and compete effectively in the market.

While Basil has the potential for growth and success, investors should carefully evaluate the valuation and consider the risks associated with investing in an early-stage company operating in a competitive industry.

Next Section: Market

Market

The freelance economy is rapidly expanding, with many workers considering freelancing and remote work globally. This trend has been further propelled by the COVID-19 pandemic, which has driven many businesses to adopt flexible working arrangements. The US Freelance Platforms Market was valued at $1.5 billion in 2023 and is expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 15.8% from 2023 to 2030. This indicates a significant opportunity for Basil and other freelance platform players.

Basil's growth prospects are closely tied to the overall growth of the freelance economy. Basil's service is poised for growth given the increasing number of freelancers and the corresponding demand for efficient project and client management tools. The platform's beta version has already gained traction with 300 users and is expected to generate $225,000 in project revenue, demonstrating market acceptance of its offering.

Nevertheless, the competitive landscape for freelance platforms is extremely competitive, with established players like Upwork and Fiverr commanding significant market share. Basil must differentiate itself from these competitors to carve out a profitable niche. Its focus on helping freelancers manage client relationships offers a point of differentiation, particularly if Basil can provide a more seamless and efficient experience than its competitors. The company's positioning towards commercial artists and designers may also allow it to capture a unique market segment.

Given the rapidly growing market, high market acceptance, and low market regulation, Basil's market potential is high. However, its success will depend on its ability to differentiate itself from competitors and continue to provide a valuable service to freelancers.

Next Section: Team

Team

Basil is led by CEO Connor Murdock and CTO Daniel Gilligan. Murdock has previous experience in the industry, having worked as a freelance commercial artist and designer. He understands freelancers' challenges and has firsthand experience with the pain points of running a freelance business. Gilligan, on the other hand, brings technical expertise to the team. Both founders have shared founder experience and complementary skills, which is beneficial for the growth and success of Basil.

With a team of three, Basil is a lean and focused organization. The founders are dedicated to the company's success and have demonstrated their commitment by launching the platform's beta version and acquiring 300 freelance users. The team's ability to generate $225,000 in project revenue with 84% year-over-year growth is a testament to their dedication and the potential of the Basil platform.

Overall, the Basil team is well-positioned to address the needs of freelancers and clients in the industry. With their relevant industry experience, dedication, and complementary skills, they have the potential to drive the growth and success of the company.

Next Section: Differentiation

Differentiation

Basil operates in a highly competitive market, with established competitors like Upwork and Fiverr. While the company has developed a platform for freelancers to manage client relationships, it doesn't provide any specific differentiators from its competitors. Basil's description emphasizes its user-friendly platform and its understanding of the challenges freelancers face, but these are common attributes shared by many freelance platforms.

With over 300 freelance users and enterprise clients such as Bose, Basil has shown some traction in the market. However, the company's differentiation level in terms of quality and price is low. Basil must identify and communicate unique value propositions that set it apart. Basil may struggle to attract and retain users without clear differentiation in the highly competitive freelance platforms market.

Furthermore, Basil's growth potential may be limited by the low barriers to entry in the industry. With many direct competitors and an extremely competitive landscape, Basil must innovate and improve its platform to get ahead continuously. The company's success will depend on its ability to provide a superior user experience, attract a large user base, and differentiate itself from the competition.

Next Section: Performance

Performance

Basil has made significant progress in developing its platform for freelancers. The company's platform aims to streamline the process of building and managing relationships between freelancers and their clients. Freelancers can easily set up proposals, contracts, payments, and bookings with a seamless checkout flow. The beta version of Basil has already been launched and has attracted 300 users.

Basil's user base includes enterprise clients such as Bose, demonstrating the platform's appeal to established companies. Basil expects to generate $225,000 in project revenue, representing an impressive 84% year-over-year growth. The company has actively sought feedback from its users to enhance its product roadmap, ensuring that it meets the needs of freelancers and clients alike.

Financially, Basil has shown promising signs. The company has raised $45,000 in prior funding rounds and has cash and cash equivalents of $14,034. While the company has not disclosed its most recent revenue figures, it reported annual revenue of $95,362. It is important to note that Basil is still in the pre-profit stage, but its high-growth business type indicates potential for future profitability.

Basil operates in an extremely competitive landscape, with numerous freelance platforms vying for market share. However, the company's focus on user experience and its ability to attract enterprise clients like Bose set it apart from the competition. With its current crowdfunding campaign on Wefunder, Basil aims to raise additional funds to support its growth.

Overall, Basil's progress in developing its platform and attracting users and enterprise clients is commendable. The company's focus on enhancing the freelancing experience and generating revenue through its platform positions it well for future success.

Next Section: Risk

Risk

Basil operates in an extremely competitive market, with well-established competitors like Upwork and Fiverr. These competitors have a strong foothold in the freelance platform's market, making it challenging for Basil to capture market share. Basil's revenue growth has been relatively stagnant, with no significant year-over-year growth. This lack of growth raises concerns about Basil's ability to attract new users and generate sustainable revenue in the future.

Furthermore, Basil's financials indicate a relatively low cash position and high monthly burn rate, which may lead to cash flow challenges if not managed effectively. The company also has short-term and long-term debt, increasing its financial risk. Basil's overvaluation may deter potential investors, as its financial performance and market position may not justify its current valuation.

While Basil has a solid user base and has received positive feedback from its clients, the barriers to entry in the freelance platforms market are relatively low. New competitors could easily enter the market and potentially disrupt Basil's business. Basil's lack of partnerships and patents also limits its competitive advantage and may hinder its ability to differentiate itself from its competitors.

Overall, Basil faces significant competition, financial stability, and market saturation risks. However, the company's high market acceptance and the potential for growth in the freelance platforms market provide some opportunities for success. Investors should carefully consider these risks and opportunities before making an investment decision.

Next Section: Bullish Outlook

Bullish Outlook

Basil has positioned itself as an exciting platform for freelancers, offering a comprehensive suite of tools to build and manage client relationships. The company's beta version has already gained traction with 300 active users, including enterprise clients like Bose. With a focus on enhancing the freelancing experience, Basil has prioritized user feedback to drive its product roadmap, ensuring that it meets the evolving needs of its target market.

The freelance industry is experiencing significant growth, and Basil is well-positioned to capture a share of this market. With a seamless checkout flow and integrated features for proposals, contracts, payments, and bookings, Basil offers a compelling value proposition for freelancers and clients alike. Furthermore, Basil's high-margin recurring revenue model contributes to its financial stability and growth potential.

Looking ahead, Basil's strong market potential, high-growth business type, and high-margin revenue model position it for success in the freelance platforms market. As the company continues to refine its offering and attract new users, Basil has the opportunity to become the go-to platform for freelancers seeking to streamline their workflows and enhance their business operations.

Next Section: Bearish Outlook

Bearish Outlook

Basil, despite its promising vision and early traction, faces significant challenges in the highly competitive freelance platform market. While the company has gained 300 users and secured enterprise clients like Bose, its revenue generation is still relatively low at $95,362, with no significant growth. This stagnant revenue growth raises concerns about the company's ability to scale and attract a larger user base.

The freelance platform market is already saturated with well-established players like Upwork and Fiverr, which have a strong foothold and extensive networks. Basil's value proposition, although appealing, may not be compelling enough to persuade users to switch from these established platforms. The low barriers to entry in this market mean that Basil will face intense competition in acquiring and retaining users, making it challenging to achieve sustainable growth.

Furthermore, Basil's valuation of $5 million appears to be inflated when considering its current revenue and industry competition. The valuation is over 52 times its annual revenue, which seems overly optimistic for a company in the early stage of development with limited revenue growth. This high valuation raises concerns about whether the company can deliver sufficient returns to investors in the long run.

Basil's financials also raise red flags in addition to these challenges. The company reported a net loss of $32,555, indicating it is not profitable. With a monthly burn rate of $2,712.92, Basil must demonstrate a clear path to profitability and sustainable financial management.

Overall, while Basil has made progress in building its platform and attracting some users, the intensely competitive landscape, slow revenue growth, inflated valuation, and financial challenges suggest a bearish outlook for the company. Investors should carefully consider the risks and uncertainties associated with Basil's position in the market before making any investment decisions.

Next Section: Executive Summary

Executive Summary

Basil is a platform designed to support freelancers in managing their client relationships. The platform integrates features for proposals, contracts, payments, and bookings to streamline the freelance workflow. Basil operates in the highly competitive US Freelance Platforms Market, which includes significant players such as Upwork and Fiverr. Basil's unique selling proposition lies in its integrated approach, offering a one-stop solution for freelancers.

The company launched its beta version, attracting 300 users, including enterprise users such as Bose. Basil has processed approximately $225,000 in revenue and is experiencing a year-over-year growth rate of 84% in platform transactions. However, the company is still in the pre-profit phase, with a net income of -$32,555 for the most recent fiscal year.

Despite the promising growth, Basil's valuation of $5 million may be considered overvalued given its current revenue and competitive landscape. The company plans to use the funds raised in this round for founders' salaries, marketing, and general administrative expenses. While Basil's integrated approach to freelance management is innovative, the company's success will depend on its ability to differentiate itself in a highly competitive market and achieve sustainable growth.

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Basil on Wefunder 2023
Platform: Wefunder
Security Type: SAFE
Valuation: $5,000,000

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