"MENA-focused human resources startup Cercli secures $4 million in seed funding, aiming to create a regional equivalent of Rippling"
Dubai-based HR SaaS startup Cercli has secured a $4 million seed round, led by US-based Afore Capital, with participation from Amir Farha's COTU Ventures, Y Combinator, Rebel Fund, and a host of angel investors, including Ramp's co-founder Karim Atiyeh, Rappi's co-founder Sebastian Mejia, Rippling's former VP of Engineering Tony Dong, Oyester's co-founder Tony Jamous, Allison Pickens, and founders and executives from Kitopi, Careem, and other MENA startups.
Founded last year by Akeed Azmi and David Reche, Cercli is focused on providing a single modern platform for businesses in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region to hire, manage, and pay their global workforce. The startup's solution automates local and international employment processes, streamlining HR, payroll, and compliance for MENA companies with globally distributed teams.
Cercli's product comes with integrations for different HR, finance, accounting, legal, and IT softwares, addressing compliance, contracts, payroll, and workforce administration under one roof. Most businesses use several tools to manage these tasks, but Cercli consolidates them into a single solution, making it easier for companies to manage their workforce efficiently.
With a growth rate of 25 percent month over month, Cercli has paid out over $23 million in salaries to employees of its clients across 31 countries. The startup's focus on the MENA region and global workforce automation suggests plans to expand its client base by enabling businesses in this rapidly evolving region to manage international talent more effectively.
Given the Y Combinator backing and the increasing demand for global HR SaaS in MENA, Cercli is positioned for significant regional growth and possibly broader global outreach over time. While explicit future strategies for Cercli are limited, the startup's mission to simplify international employment in MENA businesses makes it a noteworthy HR tech startup in the region.
In essence, Cercli is building a Rippling for MENA, aiming to become the go-to HR SaaS solution for businesses operating in the MENA region and beyond. The startup's seed round is a testament to the growing demand for such a platform in the region and the confidence investors have in Cercli's team and vision.
Read also:
- Expensive Fix for Owner's 392-Mile Lucid Air: Lucid Motors Asking for $7,000
- METABORA and Baligames Join Forces for the Launch of a Web3-Based Puzzle Role-Playing Game
- Sustaining Measures Need to Progress in the Year 2025
- Street Food Hawkers, a prominent dining establishment, gains a formidable new set of directors.
