by In a resounding vote of confidence for Africa’s burgeoning tech ecosystem, Nigerian HR-tech startup PaidHR has secured $1.8 million in seed funding to supercharge its mission: transforming how businesses across the continent manage their people and payroll.
This latest investment, led by Accion Venture Lab and backed by returning investors Zrosk, Chui Ventures, and Zedcrest Capital, marks a pivotal moment not just for PaidHR but for the future of work in Africa.
Building HR for Africa, by Africans
When Seye Bandele and Lekan Omotosho founded PaidHR in 2020, they started with a simple vision and a whiteboard: African businesses deserved better tools to manage their teams and pay them right. Fast forward to today, and PaidHR stands as a beacon of innovation, serving over 250 businesses across Nigeria, Kenya, and South Africa, and processing more than $18 million in salaries in 2024 alone, nearly double the total from the previous year.
At its core, PaidHR offers an all-in-one platform that goes far beyond basic payroll. It unifies payroll automation, HR information systems (HRIS), compliance, performance management, and earned wage access (EWA), all tailored for the unique challenges of African markets. Its cross-border payroll engine, supporting 49 currencies, empowers businesses to pay employees in their local currencies while navigating the maze of regulations that come with operating across multiple countries.
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Empowering Businesses, Enabling Growth
Africa’s workforce is on the cusp of a seismic shift. By 2030, half of all new entrants into the global labor force are expected to come from sub-Saharan Africa. Yet, 44 million SMEs—responsible for 80% of jobs on the continent—still struggle with informal processes, compliance headaches, and limited access to financial services for employees. PaidHR’s platform is changing that narrative.
For logistics, retail, and manufacturing businesses—many of which have fewer than 200 employees—PaidHR is a game-changer. It automates the drudgery of payroll, ensures regulatory compliance, and provides employees with access to financial wellness tools, including earned wage access and digital wallets, enabling them to spend their wages instantly without a bank transfer.
As CEO Seye Bandele puts it:
“We are building HR management for the African context, and this funding allows us to scale our vision, expand our reach, and deliver even more value to our clients. With the support of Accion Venture Lab and our returning investors, we are well-positioned to help businesses grow and scale more effectively across borders.”
Investors See a High-Impact Opportunity
The $1.8 million seed round is more than just a financial milestone—it’s a testament to PaidHR’s impact and potential. For lead investor Accion Venture Lab and others, the model represents a high-impact opportunity: by equipping SMEs with infrastructure once reserved for large firms, PaidHR unlocks productivity, enhances worker resilience, and enables cross-border scaling for African startups.
Amee Parbhoo, managing partner at Accion Venture Lab, shared:
“We are proud to support the team as they deliver scalable, cost-effective solutions that help strengthen small businesses and enable employees to take control of their financial lives.”
Fueling the Next Chapter
With this fresh capital, PaidHR plans to deepen its market share in Nigeria, accelerate product development, expand its customer success teams, and drive regional growth across Africa’s enterprise and SME markets. The company is doubling down on tools for financial wellness, compliance automation, and HR analytics—areas critical for Africa’s rapidly growing and diversifying workforce.
Also read: Mastercard, Enza team up to advance African fintech.
PaidHR’s journey is a story of grit, vision, and relentless innovation. From humble beginnings to a pan-African platform, the company is proving that homegrown solutions can solve Africa’s most complex business challenges. As the continent’s workforce swells and its businesses reach across borders, PaidHR stands ready, empowering employers, uplifting employees, and shaping the future of work in Africa.
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