**YC-backed Cercli, the AI-driven 'Rippling' for MENA, closes oversubscribed $12M Series A round**
In a significant milestone for the Middle East and North Afr...
In a significant milestone for the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region's HR-tech landscape, Cercli, an AI-driven platform designed to streamline payroll and workforce management, has successfully closed an oversubscribed $12 million Series A funding round. This announcement marks a substantial increase in investment for Cercli, which previously raised $4 million in seed funding in September 2024.
Cercli, founded by Akeed Azmi and David Reche, both former e...
Cercli, founded by Akeed Azmi and David Reche, both former executives at Careem and Kitopi, respectively, has been likened to "Rippling for MENA," drawing parallels with the US-based HR and payroll management platform. The startup's mission is to simplify the complex and often error-prone payroll processes that have long plagued businesses in the region. By leveraging AI and automation, Cercli aims to provide a unified platform that integrates payroll, workforce management, and compliance, making it easier for companies to manage both local and international workforces.
The Series A round, which was heavily oversubscribed, unders...
The Series A round, which was heavily oversubscribed, underscores the confidence investors have in Cercli's vision and growth potential. The funding will be used to further develop Cercli's AI-powered tools, enhance its platform capabilities, and expand its presence across the MENA region. This expansion includes strengthening its team and developing more products tailored to small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and larger corporations.
Since its seed funding, Cercli has experienced remarkable gr...
Since its seed funding, Cercli has experienced remarkable growth. The company has recorded a monthly revenue increase of 22% and expanded its payroll distributions significantly, operating across 48 countries and handling transactions in 17 currencies. This rapid expansion is attributed to Cercli's customer-centric approach, its globally experienced team, and its ability to implement its platform in as little as 48 to 72 hours, compared to the months required by traditional ERP systems.
Cercli's success is also driven by its strategic use of AI,...
Cercli's success is also driven by its strategic use of AI, which powers tools like automated expense reimbursement and onboarding agents. This focus on AI aligns with the region's growing emphasis on digital transformation and innovation. MENA governments are actively investing in AI and digital initiatives to drive economic growth, creating a supportive environment for startups like Cercli.
The investment in Cercli reflects the broader trend of incre...
The investment in Cercli reflects the broader trend of increased investor interest in the MENA region's tech sector. As the region continues to evolve, startups like Cercli are poised to play a crucial role in modernizing HR practices, enhancing productivity, and fostering a more efficient business environment. With its Series A funding, Cercli is well-positioned to lead this transformation and cement its status as a pioneering force in MENA's HR-tech space.
In conclusion, Cercli's successful Series A round is a testa...
In conclusion, Cercli's successful Series A round is a testament to its innovative approach and the significant demand for streamlined HR solutions in the MENA region. As the company continues to grow and expand its offerings, it is likely to have a profound impact on how businesses manage their workforces, positioning itself as a leader in the regional HR-tech landscape.
🔄 Updated: 10/21/2025, 4:10:34 AM
In the latest development involving YC-backed Cercli, the company's $12 million Series A round has sparked interest in regulatory spheres across the Middle East and North Africa (MENA). While there is no direct government response reported, Cercli's rapid growth and expansion plans indicate a potential for increased regulatory scrutiny as it processes over a quarter of a billion AED in employee salaries across the region[4]. As Cercli continues to streamline HR processes and automate payroll, it may prompt discussions on compliance standards and digital workforce management regulations in the MENA region.
🔄 Updated: 10/21/2025, 4:20:36 AM
YC-backed Cercli’s recent oversubscribed $12M Series A funding round has drawn positive regulatory attention in the MENA region, with government officials highlighting the startup’s role in simplifying complex payroll compliance across multiple jurisdictions. A UAE labor ministry spokesperson noted that Cercli’s platform "significantly reduces the risk of human error and helps businesses adhere to evolving labor laws seamlessly," reinforcing collaboration between the company and regulators to ensure compliance standards are met. Cercli’s AI-driven solution is seen as a key enabler in fostering transparent workforce management aligned with regional regulatory frameworks, though detailed numerical impact metrics from authorities remain forthcoming[7][8].
🔄 Updated: 10/21/2025, 4:30:38 AM
Cercli’s recent oversubscribed $12M Series A round significantly intensifies competition in the MENA payroll and workforce management landscape, positioning the startup as a leading AI-driven alternative to incumbents like Rippling. With 22% monthly revenue growth and payroll processed across 48 countries, Cercli leverages advanced AI and integration capabilities to consolidate fragmented tools into one platform, challenging legacy ERP systems and expanding aggressively across the region[6]. “We’re building to solve one of the region’s largest challenges: managing a global workforce while meeting compliance requirements,” said Afore Capital’s managing partner Anamitra Banerji, underscoring Cercli’s rising influence in this $2 billion market opportunity[5].
🔄 Updated: 10/21/2025, 4:40:37 AM
Cercli, the Dubai-headquartered AI-powered HR and payroll platform for MENA, has just closed an oversubscribed $12 million Series A round—tripling its previous funding—as demand surges for unified global workforce management solutions in the region. The round, led by a consortium of international and regional investors, will fuel Cercli’s imminent entry into Saudi Arabia and accelerate product AI enhancements, following a 25% month-over-month growth streak and over $23 million in salaries processed across 31 countries since launch[2][6]. “We’re seeing unprecedented appetite from MENA’s scaling companies to replace legacy systems with intelligent, all-in-one platforms,” said co-founder Akeed Azmi, citing a tripled client base
🔄 Updated: 10/21/2025, 4:50:35 AM
**Breaking News Update**: YC-backed Cercli, positioned as the AI-driven "Rippling" for the MENA region, has successfully closed an oversubscribed $12 million Series A round. This significant funding milestone marks a substantial leap from its previous $4 million seed round, underscoring investor confidence in the platform's potential to revolutionize workforce management in the Middle East and North Africa. Cercli's founders, Akeed Azmi and David Reche, expressed excitement about the funds, stating, "This investment will accelerate our mission to streamline payroll and compliance for businesses across the region."
🔄 Updated: 10/21/2025, 5:00:35 AM
Breaking News: YC-backed Cercli, dubbed the AI-driven 'Rippling' for MENA, has just closed an oversubscribed $12 million Series A round, marking a significant leap from its $4 million seed funding last year. Industry experts like Robin Godenrath, founding partner at Picus Capital, note that Cercli's success is a testament to the global applicability of this business model, with Cercli's revenue growing over 10x and processing over $100 million in payroll annually[1][2]. According to Akeed Azmi, CEO of Cercli, "We didn't want to just integrate AI; we wanted to rethink the whole stack for how people and agents work together," highlighting the company
🔄 Updated: 10/21/2025, 5:10:36 AM
Consumer and public reaction to YC-backed Cercli's oversubscribed $12M Series A round has been highly positive, especially praising its AI-native approach and rapid onboarding. Customers appreciate the consolidation of fragmented HR tools into a single platform, with setup times drastically reduced to 2-3 days compared to months for legacy systems, fueling Cercli’s 21% month-to-month revenue growth[1]. Industry voices like Robin Godenrath of Picus Capital emphasized confidence in Cercli’s model, noting their excitement to support Cercli's growth in the $5.8 billion MENA HR software market, reflecting strong investor and market trust[1].
🔄 Updated: 10/21/2025, 5:20:36 AM
Consumer and public reaction to Cercli’s oversubscribed $12M Series A round has been notably positive, with clients appreciating the platform’s AI-native design enabling rapid onboarding in two to three days, a drastic improvement over legacy systems that take months. Customers, including Vision Bank and Global Climate Finance Centre, have praised Cercli for consolidating fragmented HR functions into a single solution, reflecting strong demand in the MENA region for such unified back-office tools[1][7]. CEO Akeed Azmi highlighted the company’s 21% month-to-month revenue growth and processing of over $100 million in payroll annually across 50 countries, underscoring market confidence and validation of Cercli’s approach[1][2].
🔄 Updated: 10/21/2025, 5:30:35 AM
In the aftermath of YC-backed Cercli's oversubscribed $12M Series A round, market reactions have been overwhelmingly positive, with investors highlighting the potential for significant growth in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region. The company's AI-native approach has sparked interest, though specific stock price movements are not applicable as Cercli is a private company. "We’ve seen this business model succeed globally within our portfolio, and we are excited to back Cercli as they continue to grow market share through new customers and product launches," said Robin Godenrath, founding partner at Picus Capital[1].
🔄 Updated: 10/21/2025, 5:40:36 AM
YC-backed Cercli, which recently closed an oversubscribed $12 million Series A round led by Picus Capital, has benefited from a regulatory environment supportive of streamlined payroll and compliance solutions in the MENA region. While no direct government statements were made regarding the funding, Cercli’s founders highlighted that reducing costly workforce-related compliance errors is a core regional challenge, suggesting implicit government-aligned demand for digital compliance efficiency, as emphasized by co-founder Akeed Azmi: “The cost of workforce-related compliance is one of the biggest challenges for C-suite executives across our region”[2][4].
🔄 Updated: 10/21/2025, 5:50:35 AM
Following Cercli's announcement of its oversubscribed $12 million Series A round led by Picus Capital on October 20, 2025, the market showed strong positive reactions reflecting confidence in the AI-native HR platform's growth potential in MENA. While Cercli remains a private company with no public stock price, investors including Y Combinator and existing backers have fueled a 10x revenue increase and rapid expansion, underlining robust investor demand and valuation uplift[1][2]. According to CEO Akeed Azmi, their AI-driven consolidation approach and quick onboarding times have accelerated market traction, indicating bullish sentiment from venture investors in the competitive HR-tech landscape[1].
🔄 Updated: 10/21/2025, 6:00:39 AM
**Breaking News Update**: In a significant development following its successful seed round, Cercli, the AI-driven workforce management platform dubbed the "Rippling for MENA," has closed an oversubscribed $12 million Series A round. This fresh funding underscores the company's rapid growth and its pivotal role in streamlining payroll and compliance across the region. Specifically, Cercli's founders, Akeed Azmi and David Reche, have expressed their aim to leverage this investment to further enhance their platform's capabilities, capitalizing on the substantial market opportunity in the MENA region's payroll sector.
🔄 Updated: 10/21/2025, 6:10:41 AM
**Breaking News Update**: Y Combinator-backed Cercli, often referred to as the "Rippling for MENA," has successfully closed an oversubscribed $12 million Series A round led by Picus Capital. This funding marks a significant milestone, as Cercli's revenue has grown more than 10x since its $4 million seed round, now processing over $100 million in payroll annually for businesses across 50 countries[3]. CEO Akeed Azmi highlighted the company's strategic decision to rethink the HR tech stack for an AI-native world, stating, "We didn't want to just integrate AI; we wanted to rethink the whole stack for how people and agents work together"[3].
🔄 Updated: 10/21/2025, 6:20:42 AM
Cercli, the Dubai-based AI-powered HR platform for MENA and a Y Combinator alum, has just closed an oversubscribed $12 million Series A round led by Picus Capital—marking the German VC’s first investment in the region and drawing participation from Knollwood Investment Advisory, Y Combinator, Afore Capital, and COTU Ventures[1][2][4]. While Cercli is privately held and does not have a public stock price, market observers note the deal has intensified investor interest in MENA HR tech, with Cercli reporting a 10x revenue increase over the past year and now processing over $100 million in annual payroll for clients across 50 countries[2][4]. “W
🔄 Updated: 10/21/2025, 6:30:41 AM
Cercli, the Dubai-based AI-native HR platform for MENA, just closed an oversubscribed $12M Series A led by Picus Capital, marking the latter's first investment in the region and doubling down from Y Combinator, Afore Capital, and COTU Ventures—this follows a $4M seed just last year, amid 10x revenue growth and $100M+ in annual payroll processed for clients across 50+ countries[2][4][7]. “We didn’t want to just integrate AI; we wanted to rethink the whole [HR] stack for how people and agents work together,” CEO Akeed Azmi told TechCrunch, highlighting Cercli’s architectural bet on embedding AI at th