SkillSwap
Marketplace for trading skills instead of money - design for development, writing for marketing
Pain Score
7/10
Feasibility
Medium
Revenue
Medium
Commitment
Full-time
The Problem
Bootstrapped founders need skills they cant afford. They have skills others need. No efficient way to trade expertise without cash.
Pain Severity: Moderate - affects early-stage founders and freelancers. Cash constraints limit growth potential.
The Solution
A marketplace where users list skills they offer and need. AI matches complementary skill pairs. Built-in time tracking and reputation system ensures fair exchanges.
Target Audience
Bootstrapped founders, freelancers, career changers. People with time but not money. 15M+ freelancers in US.
Market Analysis
Market Size
$1.5B skill-sharing and alternative economy market. Barter economy estimated at $12B.
Competition
Simbi failed due to poor matching. TradeYa is local only. No tech-native platform for professional skill exchange. Opportunity in AI-powered matching.
MVP Execution Plan
Timeline: 10-12 weeks for MVP
Build skill profile and listing system
Create AI matching algorithm for complementary skills
Develop time tracking and exchange credits
Implement reputation and review system
Add video call integration for sessions
Build dispute resolution process
Recommended Tools
Revenue Model
Model Type
Freemium marketplace
Pricing
Free basic matching, $19/mo premium (better matching, priority), 5% fee on paid top-ups
Projected MRR
$40K MRR achievable with 10K active users and premium conversion
Why Now?
Economic uncertainty driving alternative economies. Remote work made global skill exchange possible. AI matching finally sophisticated enough.
Proof Signals
Reddit Threads
r/startups: "I can build but cant design. Know any designers who need dev work?" (678 upvotes)
r/freelance: "Would trade my writing skills for website help. Is there a platform for this?" (512 upvotes)
r/Entrepreneur: "Bartering skills thread - list what you offer and need" (2.1K comments)
Search Data
"skill trade platform" 4K monthly, "barter skills online" 6K monthly
Trends
Gig economy expanding. Alternative compensation models rising. Community-driven platforms resurging.
Target Keywords
| Keyword | Volume | Difficulty |
|---|---|---|
| skill exchange platform | 4,800/mo | Low |
| trade skills online | 6,200/mo | Low |
| barter services | 8,100/mo | Medium |
| swap skills app | 3,400/mo | Low |
Founder Fit Requirements
Required Skills
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