Maintenance and feature update for Solvers

Maintenance and feature update for Solvers

Starting April 15, the Solver environment on blackbear will be temporarily unavailable for an extended period due to platform maintenance.

With the upcoming update, Statements of Work (SOWs) will become the new standard for how projects are structured on blackbear. All future work will follow this format. This is the first step in a broader set of improvements we’re working on to improve how you work on the platform.

What if i’m working on a Role or Assignment during the downtime?

If you need to submit deliverables or hours during the maintenance period, or if you’re not sure about the status of your project, please reach out to your Project Consultant. We’ll make sure everything is properly recorded and delivered.

Don’t worry — your data is safe, and our team is here to help you through the transition.

A shift to Statements of Work

We’re moving away from open Assignments and temporary Roles. From now on, all work will be handled through Statements of Work (SOWs) — clear project agreements that outline what needs to be done, when it needs to be done, and what’s expected as a result.

This new structure makes collaboration more straightforward and professional. It gives you:

• Clarity on what’s expected from the start

• Defined milestones, so you know when and how to deliver your work

• More predictability around timelines, responsibilities, and payments
  

You’ll still log hours and submit deliverables — but only when they’re linked to approved milestones in a Statement of Work. This helps everyone stay aligned and ensures a smoother, more transparent workflow.

What happens to completed Roles and Assignments?

All completed Roles and Assignments will no longer be visible on the platform after the update. But rest assured: your data is not deleted. We're simply transitioning to a new model, where only open, approved Statements of Work will be shown.

If you're part of a currently active Role or Assignment, it may take some time for that work to be migrated into the Statement of Work format. You’ll be notified once it’s available again.

Key changes to your experience

Here’s what else will change:

• Browsing: You’ll now only see open, approved Statements of Work ready for application.

• Applications: Applying is more professional but still simple. Just submit your resume, LinkedIn profile, and a short motivation.

• Work submission: Deliverables and hours can be submitted again, but only when linked to approved milestones.

• Payouts: We’ve moved to a standard 30-day payout term, with no fees.

Need help?

If you have any questions, are unsure about your current work, or run into issues during or after the release, don’t hesitate to reach out to our team or your Project Consultant.

Thank you for your trust and patience. These changes are all about making blackbear simpler, more structured, and better for how you work.

Best,
The blackbear team