Ben Huffman, Co-Founder & CEO at Contra: We're Building LinkedIn For The Next Generation

Playbook Roadmap to $100K milestone at Contra (FREE)→ uncontrad.com Today on UnContrad we’re joined by Ben Huffman, CEO and co-founder of @contra_hq, the commission-free platform revolutionizing independents work. In this episode, Ben shares how he built Contra from a simple profile page in 2019 to a global network for the next generation of independents, and why clinging to outdated platforms and fee-heavy models means you’ll miss the opportunity to build stored value and real community if you keep chasing short-term gigs instead of long-term outcomes. We dive into: • The origin story of Contra • Why identity-first freelancing is the future • The 3-sided network that makes Contra unique Ben also breaks down how to: • Use AI to automate client outreach • Leverage creator tool integrations (Framer, Kajabi, Notion) • Turn your Contra profile into a stored-value asset If you’re tired of platforms taking 20%+ of your income, this episode is your roadmap. ⏱ Timestamps: 00:00 – Why Contra was built 04:30 – Freelance vs. full-time in 2025 10:12 – Commission-free model explained 20:45 – USDC payments & going global 25:00 – Framer partnership + expert networks 28:00 – New AI features for lead generation 32:00 – What freelancing looks like in 2030 Want weekly tips on how to grow your independent business? Join 500+ creatives at uncontrad.com Watch Top Interviews here: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLHGT-vGSoxQ1WcgAGY8YgfJ9wocHXt3tt Follow our journey on LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/ismelfigueroa https://linkedin.com/in/danielgbright #creative #entrepreneur #business