HR Tech Startup Firstwork Secures $15 Million for US and European Expansion
San Francisco-based HR automation startup Firstwork has closed a $15 million Series A round to scale its AI-driven operations in North America and Europe.
Firstwork, a developer of AI-based HR automation tools, raised $15 million in a Series A funding round led by Earlybird Venture Capital. Additional participants included Legion VC, Deel Ventures, and previous investors Gradient and Y Combinator, bringing the company's total capital raised to $20 million since its 2024 inception.
The startup, founded by former Deel executives Vardhan Kapoor and Shubham Choudhary, provides AI agents to manage workforce tasks such as document verification, background checks, and onboarding for frontline staff. While headquartered in San Francisco, the company maintains a significant operational presence in Bengaluru, where approximately 80% of its staff is based.
Firstwork plans to deploy the new capital to scale its research, engineering, and sales teams while expanding its market share in the US and Europe. The company states that its platform processes over 150,000 frontline worker hires monthly, integrating with existing client software to automate administrative workflows.
The fundraise occurs amid a broader trend of AI adoption in human resources, with startups like Hunar.AI and TurboHire also securing capital to compete in the enterprise recruitment and onboarding sector. Firstwork currently serves a client base that includes Deel, Job&Talent, and Wonolo.