Upwork Acquires Bubty

On August 6, 2025, Upwork Enterprise, the enterprise division of Upwork Inc., announced its acquisition of Bubty, a Netherlands-based Freelancer Engagement and Management System (FEMS) platform, and Ascen, a global compliance and Employer of Record (EOR) provider. The acquisition integrates Upwork’s global freelancer marketplace capabilities with Bubty’s strengths in private talent pool management, configurable onboarding, and compliance workflows, complemented by Ascen’s EOR infrastructure. Both Bubty and Ascen will be integrated into Upwork Enterprise as part of a standalone offering to address enterprise needs across freelancers, staff augmentation, and Statement of Work (SoW) engagements.
This Viewpoint outlines the acquisition’s key facts and objectives. The report also explains acquisition details, including the scope of capabilities and talent segments covered, the potential impact on enterprises and the broader market landscape. It also outlines the key considerations that stakeholders should monitor as the integration and rollout progress.