The Ypsilanti Entrepreneur Who Created a Gig Platform That Prioritizes Community Connections

Sierra Lambert on launching Gig-L (with video)

Marketplace Story

Published: January 30, 2026 | Last Updated: February 9, 2026

Ann Arbor SPARK supports entrepreneurs and startups throughout Washtenaw County with mentorship, funding, and accelerator programs. This is part three of our four-part LGBTQ+ Tech Innovator Series, highlighting diverse entrepreneurs shaping Michigan's tech future. See the video companion to this article at pridesource.com.

Sierra Lambert has worked at over 30 different places — restaurants, nonprofits, volunteer organizations and skill-based gigs.

Each experience taught her something new, but also revealed a persistent problem: talented people struggling to find meaningful work and small businesses desperately needing skills they couldn't afford full-time.

The solution came to her while running Bridge Community Cafe in Ypsilanti. As a small business owner, she found herself wishing she knew skilled individuals who could help with marketing, photography or menu design, while also realizing she'd gladly take on gig work herself to supplement her income.

That insight sparked Gig-L — pronounced "Giggle" — a community-first gig platform designed specifically for small businesses and local organizations. The queer entrepreneur, who studied political science and international affairs at Eastern Michigan University, launched Gig-L a few months ago. More information is available at gig-l.net.

Tell me about Gig-L.

Gig-L is built for small businesses and local organizations, focusing on community and people first. Unlike most gig apps that are purely transactional — you come, do the thing, get money and leave — we're building lasting relationships. When we work for companies we know, we get to know who owns them and become part of supporting and shaping them.

Why were you driven to create Gig-L? What problem are you trying to solve?

The inspiration came from experiencing both sides. When I opened my coffee shop, I wished I knew people with the skills I'd developed over time. I needed help with social media, photography, menu design. We're solving the disconnect between people who want meaningful work and small businesses that need help but can't afford full-time employees.

What resources have been helpful to you along the way?

SPARK has been a game changer. They are really awesome. I work with somebody through SPARK who helps walk me through things and gives me insights from working with other founders. They have programs like the Digital Summer Clinic — I have two interns from Eastern Michigan University who want to do marketing but haven't had jobs where they could actually do marketing. SPARK has been amazing with their programs, the people who work there and financial support too.

Why is LGBTQ+ representation important in the tech field?

People shut themselves out of rooms really often, and if you don't see yourself in a room, it's easy to shut yourself out. The more people making an impact and the more diverse their voices and experiences are, the more innovative solutions we get. When somebody builds something for you, somebody has to be in that room to build it who knows what you're going through and what you need. Tech is only limiting because we're letting it be that way.

What's on the horizon for Gig-L?

We brought our first users last summer. The next phase is really getting into it with our early users — following their journey, getting their feedback, understanding what they wish we had and what doesn't translate the way we thought. I want this built with people, because that's how you build for people. We're always inviting feedback, support and partnership ideas because everything depends on who's involved. The more people who want to support or have ideas, the better we're able to serve the community.

This content is made possible through our partnership with Ann Arbor SPARK.