Build startups.
Without quitting your job.
Moonlighters connects founders and contributors through micro-equity partnerships. Discovery and introductions are free. When you’re ready to run a collaboration in one place, Premium is the operating layer.
Startups need talent. Talent can’t always quit their jobs.
Early-stage teams need experienced builders before they can afford full-time hires. Micro-equity lets contributors earn a real stake for part-time work — and gives founders a way to move faster without burning cash. Moonlighters is built for that gap.
How it works
Join the network
Sign up as a founder or contributor. Tell us what you’re building or what you can offer.
Get matched — free
We connect you with aligned founders or contributors. Matching and intros are free; no cost to find your next collaboration.
Collaborate
You and your partner agree on terms. For serious builds, Premium gives you a shared workspace to see progress and stay aligned — free to match, paid to manage.
Example collaborations
A typical collaboration on Moonlighters
Growth marketer, first acquisition strategy
Engineer, architecture or early feature
Operator, key systems
Moonlighters Premium
The operating layer for serious collaborations. A shared system so founders and contributors can see progress, stay aligned, and manage the collaboration in one place — instead of scattered threads and docs.
We’re rolling out Premium tools in beta. Subscribers get access as features launch and lock in early-adopter pricing.
See PremiumWho this is for
Contributors
Engineers, operators, designers, marketers, product and strategy people who want to build on the side.
- — Contribute a few hours a week for micro-equity
- — Get matched with founders for free
- — Use Premium with your team to keep work visible
Founders
Access experienced builders you couldn’t otherwise hire full-time.
- — Find contributors for free; you set equity terms together
- — Use Premium to run the collaboration in one place
Free to match
Discovery and introductions are free. No cost to find your next collaboration.
You set terms
Teams agree on their own equity and scope. We provide the platform, not legal or tax advice.
Built for part-time
Lightweight, async workflow. Match and collaborate on nights and weekends.
Find your next build — or your next builder
Discovery and introductions are free. Join as a contributor or post your opportunity as a founder.
See pricing — free to match, Premium to manage.
Frequently asked questions
Is discovery free?
Yes. Matching and introductions are free. You can join as a founder or contributor, get matched with aligned people, and start building at no cost. Premium is only for managing the collaboration after you connect.
Who sets the equity terms?
Founders and contributors agree on their own terms. Moonlighters does not set, recommend, or enforce equity amounts. We provide the platform; both sides should clarify expectations and use their own legal or tax advisors as needed.
Is the collaboration legally binding?
That’s between you and your partner. Many parties document terms in an advisor, contractor, or similar agreement. We recommend both sides use their own legal advice. Moonlighters does not provide legal or tax advice.
What if we want to work together long term?
Some collaborations evolve into full-time roles. How and whether that happens is up to the two parties. Moonlighters is built for flexible, part-time collaboration; any change in arrangement is between the founder and the contributor.
What does Premium actually include?
Premium is the operating layer for serious collaborations: a shared workspace to keep contributions visible, track milestones, and stay aligned. We’re rolling out features in beta; subscribers get access as we ship and lock in early-adopter pricing. See the pricing page for details.