Building what's next for the contingent workforce: Horizontal and Proof of Concept collaborate to shape the future of work

The future of the contingent workforce will be shaped by the people closest to its challenges. That's why Horizontal and Proof of Concept have partnered to bring workforce leaders and practitioners together to tackle industry challenges, develop practical solutions, and help shape what's next.

This partnership is rooted in a shared commitment to the contingent workforce community and the professionals navigating change within it. Together, Horizontal and Proof of Concept will create opportunities for workforce leaders, practitioners, and job seekers to collaborate on emerging challenges, explore new ideas, and develop resources that help move the industry forward and contribute to the future of work.

For years, Horizontal has invested in building relationships across the contingent workforce ecosystem, helping connect leaders, practitioners, and professionals through industry conversations, networking opportunities, and shared learning. Proof of Concept takes that idea a step further by providing a structured sprint model that turns conversations into action.

Through focused, cross-company sprints, participants work together to explore complex challenges and create tangible outcomes such as research, frameworks, guides, tools, and resources that others can immediately apply within their own organizations and careers.

Building on the relationships and community fostered through our recently announced collaboration with Direct Collective, this partnership represents a natural next step: creating opportunities not just to discuss challenges, but to work together to solve them.

Building solutions for the future of work

One of the first areas of focus will be exploring the evolving needs of contingent workforce professionals and identifying new ways to help individuals navigate career transitions, changing market dynamics, and what's next in their professional journeys.

"At Horizontal, we've always believed that some of the best ideas come from bringing great people together around shared challenges. Proof of Concept creates a unique environment where workforce professionals can move beyond conversation and actively build solutions together. We're excited to partner with Chris and the Proof of Concept team to create new opportunities for our community to contribute, learn, and help shape what's next for the contingent workforce industry."
– Jeff Seebinger, Regional Vice President, Horizontal Talent

"The contingent workforce industry is full of smart, experienced people. But the infrastructure for turning that collective intelligence into meaningful impact has never really existed. Jeff and the team at Horizontal have spent years building the kind of trust and relationships that make real collaboration possible. Partnering with them means we can bring more of the right people into the room, tackle more meaningful challenges, and deliver more value to the community we're both here to serve.”
– Chris Paden, Co-Founder, Proof of Concept

Together, Horizontal and Proof of Concept are creating a space where workforce professionals can contribute their expertise, collaborate with peers, and help shape the future of the contingent workforce community and the broader future of work.

About Horizontal

Horizontal is a minority-owned, global firm delivering workforce solutions across technology, marketing, creative, and business professional labor categories. We help businesses scale by connecting them with top talent, building expert teams, and delivering project solutions.

About Proof of Concept

Proof of Concept is a collaborative innovation community that brings together workforce leaders, practitioners, and specialists to explore emerging industry challenges through focused, cross-company sprints. Participants work together to develop practical resources, frameworks, and tools that help organizations and professionals navigate an evolving world of work.