HUSSLUP Launches Web App to Connect Entertainment Industry, Expanding Its Reach and Features

HUSSLUP, a platform designed for creative professionals in the media and entertainment industry to connect and collaborate, has launched a web application in beta. Much like LinkedIn, the platform allows users to post updates, network, and find employment opportunities. However, its focus is on bringing together professionals working in the film, television, and other entertainment sectors.

The web version of the popular mobile app was introduced this week and will be released worldwide in the coming days. The platform offers features like group creation, encrypted creative sample sharing, in-app messaging, and annotated contact lists for each project. Additionally, new web-based features called "Pro Search" and "Serendipity Mode" have been added to enhance users' experience and streamline their job search process.

The Pro Search feature allows users to conduct more detailed searches for talent using specific criteria, such as credit levels, representation, genre and project preferences, availability, preferred work locations, and professional affiliations. Users can save potential hires to a list, add comments, indicate who they have hired, and share their list with others. The platform claims that around 65% of its current membership self-identifies as diverse in at least one of the categories – gender, race, and LGBTQ+.

As the entertainment industry continues to face calls for greater representation, HUSSLUP is providing a crucial tool for diversifying the hiring process. The 2023 Hollywood Diversity Report from UCLA highlighted that people of color (POC) made up only 22% of lead actors, 17% of directors, and 12% of writers in the 200 highest-grossing North American theatrical releases of 2022.

"Serendipity Mode" is another new feature, allowing users to quickly discover a broader range of profiles by swiping through randomly arranged tiles representing members, companies, and communities. H Schuster, founder of HUSSLUP, revealed that the company plans to implement additional web-based features in the future, including "Project Rosters" and AI-driven recommendations.

"Project Rosters" is a feature designed to help users list their hires, generate call sheets, and create anonymized statistical reports for tax incentives, among other essentials. Schuster, an executive producer with over 20 years of experience in the industry, established HUSSLUP to address the common frustrations of seeking and vetting new talent. Her vision for the platform was to create a more efficient, enjoyable space for creative professionals to build profiles that fully capture their professional stories and present themselves to the industry as they see fit.

Currently, HUSSLUP features vetted, credit-verified profiles of those who have worked in the industry, with approximately 75% being mid-career professionals, including directors, writers, producers, editors, animators, composers, and art directors. However, when the platform exits the beta stage, the company plans to invite students and recent graduates looking to enter the industry, as well as partner with several universities.

HUSSLUP has also partnered with various studios, production companies, and industry organizations, such as Universal Studio Group, Universal Pictures, Blumhouse, Westbrook, AGBO, Bankable Productions, This Radicle Act, and Women in Film. The company has so far raised $2.5 million in seed funding, led by f7 Ventures and Fuel Capital, with additional funding from Ulu Ventures, Gaingels, and 360 Venture Collective. The platform currently counts around 6,000 members and continues to grow.

No-code development platforms such as AppMaster.io allow for the seamless creation of web applications, accelerating the development process and improving scalability. HUSSLUP's web app debut is a testament to the value of such platforms, offering enhanced features and an improved user experience for creative professionals around the world.