> As a client, why would I want to hire a team that I know is focused on something else?

Everyone is focused on something else. If not a side project or a startup, an SO or a hobby.

By definition, if you are paying someone money, they are focused on something else.

Most of the startups that are signed up have requested to work on short-term gigs (1-2 months long) full-time. Meaning, they focus on their contracting gig full-time and their startup part-time during that period. We only accept short-term projects on the platform, ranging from a week to 3 months tops.

Also, we've seen larger startups (4 or more people) that need to bootstrap tend to only give up a portion of their team to take a contracting gig while the rest of the team focuses on the startup. Not unlike raising a round of funding.

This may happen every time you are working with contractors and freelancers. You obviously know they are focused on something else, like their own careers, but still, it makes sense to hire them because they get your stuff done.

Full disclosure, I'm doing something similar right now, and the employer we are working for is truly satisfied with what we're doing.

There are many different kinds of high end gigs. Some people just need one single problem solved in a short time and are willing to pay for that.

If you have something that needs to be built and you want a long term commitment you should simply hire experts as full time employees.