Cercli Raises $4M to revamp MENA workforce payrolls

The Challenge — Juggling Payrolls Across Borders

Cercli comes as a blessing for businesses dealing with payrolls and management headaches. Imagine running a thriving business in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA), with teams spread across continents. Now, picture the headache of managing payrolls, ensuring compliance with diverse labor laws, and minimizing the risk of costly errors. This is the reality for many businesses in the region, from burgeoning startups to established enterprises.

Cercli Automating Payrolls & Workforce Management

Enter Cercli, a groundbreaking startup founded by Akeed Azmi and David Reche, seasoned veterans from tech giants like Careem and Kitopi. Recognizing the immense challenges businesses face in managing global workforces, Cercli has developed a powerful platform that streamlines hiring, payroll, and employee management.

“We’re building the ‘Rippling for MENA’,” explains Anamitra Banerji, Managing Partner at Afore Capital, the lead investor in Cercli’s recent $4 million seed funding round. “Cercli tackles a critical need in the region: efficiently managing a global workforce while navigating complex compliance requirements.”

A Solution Born from Real-World Pain Points

Azmi, while leading global expansion at Kitopi, experienced firsthand the frustrations of managing payroll across multiple countries. “We were essentially doing what Deel does, but it was a manual and inefficient process,” he recalls. “This highlighted a significant gap in the market: a unified system to manage payroll for a truly global workforce.”

To validate this need, Azmi conducted extensive research, interviewing businesses of all sizes, from multinational corporations like Saudi Aramco to small local shops. The findings were consistent:

• Smaller businesses: Relied heavily on spreadsheets, increasing the risk of errors, data breaches, and fraud.
• Larger enterprises: Invested heavily in expensive and complex Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) systems like SAP and Oracle, often with limited flexibility.

Cercli’s Unique Approach to Payrolls

Cercli aims to revolutionize workforce management by offering a single, integrated platform that:

• Replaces outdated systems: Eliminates the need for multiple HRIS systems and fragmented remote payroll solutions.
• Ensures compliance: Guarantees adherence to local labor laws and regulations across the MENA region.
• Streamlines operations: Automates key processes like payroll processing, employee onboarding, leave management, and expense reimbursements.

Building a Comprehensive Payrolls Solution with Cercli

Initially focused on local payrolls, Cercli quickly expanded its offerings based on customer demand. “Businesses started asking if they could shift their entire workforce management onto our platform,” explains Azmi. “This led us to develop a comprehensive solution that addresses both local and global payroll needs, all while integrating seamlessly with existing workplace tools.”

A Focus on Localization

Cercli’s key differentiator lies in its deep understanding of the unique challenges and regulations of the MENA market. “Processing salaries for employees without bank accounts, ensuring compliance with specific labor laws – these are critical aspects that other global platforms often overlook,” says Azmi.

Targeting the Mid-Market

Cercli primarily targets mid-market enterprises, where the need for integrated and compliant workforce management solutions is most acute. By providing a single source of truth for all employee data, Cercli empowers businesses to optimize their workforce, reduce costs, and enhance overall efficiency.

A Bright Future Ahead

With a talented team and a strong foundation of innovation, Cercli is poised for significant growth. The company has already experienced impressive month-over-month growth since its launch earlier this year, processing over $23 million in employee salaries across 31 countries.

The recent $4 million seed funding round, led by Afore Capital, will fuel Cercli’s expansion, enabling the company to:

• Grow its team: Invest in top talent across product, engineering, and sales.
• Expand product offerings: Develop new features and solutions to cater to a wider range of customer needs.
• Strengthen its market presence: Expand its reach across key markets within the MENA region.

The Future of Workforce Management

Cercli’s success story reflects the growing demand for innovative HR and payroll solutions in emerging markets. As businesses increasingly embrace remote work and global expansion, the need for efficient, compliant, and integrated workforce management platforms will only continue to grow.

Cercli, with its focus on localization, innovation, and customer-centric approach, is well-positioned to become a leading player in the rapidly evolving MENA workforce management landscape.