December 8, 2025

11 Fastest Growing HR Tech Companies and Startups

Discover the 11 fastest growing HR tech companies revolutionizing human resources with AI, from Rippling's $16.8B valuation to emerging startups achieving 20%+ monthly growth in talent acquisition and payroll automation.
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Table of Contents

Major Takeaways

What's fueling the unprecedented growth in HR technology investments?
AI adoption has doubled to 42% of organizations using AI in HR functions, driving over $3 billion in funding during H1 2025 alone—a 60% increase from 2024. This surge reflects strong market confidence in AI-powered solutions that automate talent acquisition, payroll, benefits, and employee experience.
How is artificial intelligence fundamentally changing HR operations?
AI enables autonomous platforms like Warp's self-running payroll system and Juicebox's autonomous candidate sourcing from 600 million profiles, while intelligent assistants like Gusto's "Gus" handle complex compliance questions. These AI-native solutions are replacing manual processes with LLM-powered automation across the entire HR workflow.
Which HR tech companies are setting the pace for innovation and growth?
Rippling leads with a $16.8 billion valuation after raising $450 million in Series G funding, serving 2,500+ enterprise customers with its unified HR/IT/Finance platform. Deel follows with $679 million total funding serving 25,000+ companies globally, while specialized innovators like Cleo address critical healthcare cost drivers and RemoFirst solves international visa challenges.

The HR tech industry is experiencing unprecedented growth, with over $3 billion raised in just the first half of 2025—60% more than the same period in 2024. This surge reflects how AI is transforming human resources, from talent acquisition to payroll, benefits, and employee experience. For go-to-market teams targeting these innovative HR tech companies, understanding which platforms are leading this transformation is crucial. Agentic AI platforms like Landbase now enable sales and marketing teams to identify and qualify these fast-growing HR tech companies in seconds using natural-language prompts like "HR tech startups that raised Series B or later funding in 2024 or 2025."

Key Takeaways

  • HR tech funding surged to $3 billion+ in H1 2025, representing 60% growth over H1 2024 and validating market confidence in AI-powered HR solutions.
  • AI adoption in HR has doubled, with 42% of organizations now using AI in HR functions compared to 26% in 2024, accelerating growth of AI-native platforms.
  • Mega-funded market leaders like Rippling ($450M Series G) and Deel ($679M total funding) have established themselves as comprehensive platforms serving thousands of enterprise customers.
  • AI-first innovators like Juicebox (20%+ monthly growth) and Findem (4x ARR growth) are leveraging LLMs and AI agents to disrupt traditional HR workflows with rapid growth trajectories.
  • Specialized solutions addressing critical pain points—from Cleo's cancer care support to RemoFirst's global visa services—are capturing significant market share by solving specific high-value HR challenges.
  • Natural-language targeting platforms enable GTM teams to identify fast-growing HR tech companies using simple prompts based on funding rounds, growth metrics, and AI capabilities for precise prospecting.

1. Rippling — All-in-One HR/IT/Finance Platform

What They Do:

Rippling unifies HR, IT, and Finance operations in a single platform, enabling companies to manage employees, devices, apps, payroll, and expenses from one system. Its 90-second employee onboarding automates setup across all systems, while AI-powered workforce automation connects 500+ integrated applications.

Why They're Growing Fast:

  • $16.8 billion valuation representing the highest in HR tech
  • $450 million Series G funding in May 2025, the largest recent HR tech round
  • 2,500+ enterprise customers including Klarna, Scale AI, and Flexport

Why They're Important:

Rippling is the only platform truly combining HR, IT, and Finance in a unified system, eliminating data silos across departments. Its industry-leading valuation and massive funding round signal unprecedented market confidence in all-in-one workforce platforms.

Leadership:

  • CEO: Parker Conrad – Serial entrepreneur pioneering unified workforce platforms
  • Key Background: Founded Zenefits before building Rippling into the most valuable private HR tech company

Valuation: $16.8 billion | Founded: 2016

Recent Funding: $450 million Series G (May 2025)

2. Deel — Global Payroll & HR Platform

What They Do:

Deel provides a comprehensive global payroll and HR platform that enables companies to hire and manage contractors and employees in 120+ countries. Its AI-powered tools work with fully owned payroll infrastructure to handle compliance, benefits, and payments across borders.

Why They're Growing Fast:

  • #28 on CNBC's Disruptors in 2025 ranking
  • $679 million total funding with profitability since 2022
  • 25,000+ companies globally including Shopify, Klarna, and Zapier

Why They're Important:

Deel dominates global workforce management, serving companies expanding internationally with comprehensive compliance and payment solutions. Its profitability combined with rapid growth makes it a rare unicorn achieving both scale and sustainable economics.

Leadership:

  • CEO: Alex Bouaziz – Leading the global workforce revolution
  • Key Background: Co-founded Deel to solve international hiring complexity with AI-powered compliance

Valuation: $7.3B | Founded: 2019

Recent Funding: $300 million Series E (October 2025)

3. Gusto — SMB Payroll & Benefits Platform

What They Do:

Gusto provides payroll, benefits, and HR tools specifically designed for small businesses, serving 6% of all U.S. employers. Its AI assistant "Gus," launched in 2024, answers payroll compliance questions, while its health insurance offering ensures compliance across all 50 states.

Why They're Growing Fast:

  • #1 Most Innovative HR Company 2025 by Fast Company
  • 6% of all U.S. employers as customers, representing massive market penetration
  • Current valuation of $10.5 billion

Why They're Important:

Gusto dominates the massive SMB market with AI-powered compliance assistance that democratizes sophisticated HR capabilities for small businesses. The platform's 2024 launch of AI assistant "Gus" addresses complex payroll questions, setting new standards for SMB-focused HR tech.

Leadership:

  • CEO: Josh Reeves – Pioneering SMB-focused HR technology
  • Key Background: Co-founded Gusto to make enterprise-grade HR tools accessible to small businesses

Valuation: $10.5B| Founded: 2012

Recent Funding: Undisclosed Series E (May 2022)

4. Juicebox — AI Recruiting & Talent Acquisition

What They Do:

Juicebox leverages AI agents to autonomously source candidates from 600 million+ profiles, transforming talent acquisition for data-driven recruiting teams. Its platform integrates deeply with major ATS platforms like Greenhouse, Lever, and Ashby, enabling recruiters to find candidates using natural language queries.

Why They're Growing Fast:

Why They're Important:

Juicebox powers hiring for leading AI companies like Ramp and Perplexity, operating in the competitive AI talent war. Its AI-native approach to recruiting represents the future of talent acquisition, using autonomous agents instead of traditional search methods.

Leadership:

  • CEO: David Paffenholz – Building the AI recruiting revolution 
  • Key Background: Co-founder of Juicebox.ai, transforming talent acquisition with autonomous AI agents

Valuation: $180M | Founded: 2023

Recent Funding: $30M Series A (September 2025)

5. Findem — AI Talent Acquisition & Management

What They Do:

Findem uses LLM-powered technology to aggregate talent data from 100,000+ sources, going beyond LinkedIn to provide comprehensive talent intelligence. Its copilot for talent sourcing enables recruiters to use natural language queries like "Show me CFOs at PE-backed companies that recently expanded" to find candidates.

Why They're Growing Fast:

  • #3 Most Innovative HR Company 2025 by Fast Company
  • Raised $105M in funding
  • 40% enterprise client increase in 2024 alone

Why They're Important:

Findem was first to use LLMs for complex talent queries, setting new standards for AI in recruiting. The platform addresses complex hiring criteria that traditional ATS systems cannot handle, providing talent intelligence beyond what LinkedIn offers.

Leadership:

  • CEO: Hari Kolam – Pioneering LLM-powered talent intelligence
  • Key Background: Co-founded Findem to revolutionize talent acquisition with AI technology

Recent Funding: $51M Series C (October 2025)

6. Cleo — Employee Benefits & Caregiver Support

What They Do:

Cleo provides comprehensive caregiver support with a focus on cancer care, addressing one of the most significant healthcare cost drivers for employers. Its Cancer Care product, launched in 2024, provides end-to-end support for employees fighting cancer, saving an average of $2,888 per family.

Why They're Growing Fast:

Why They're Important:

Cleo addresses critical timing with 2 million Americans diagnosed with cancer in 2024 (highest ever), making cancer the #1 healthcare cost driver for 50% of employers. The company's specialized focus on cancer care represents a unique niche in benefits administration with measurable ROI.

Leadership:

  • CEO: Chitra Akileswaran – Co-founder leading caregiver support innovation 
  • Key Background: Physician and entrepreneur focused on family and employee benefits

Valuation: $55.7M | Founded: 2016

Recent Funding: $80M Series C (April 2022)

7. Warp — AI-Native HR & Payroll Platform

What They Do:

Warp is the first truly "AI-native" HR and payroll platform that runs autonomously with minimal human intervention. Its AI agents automatically open state tax accounts, file forms, and resolve notices without requiring manual navigation of .gov websites.

Why They're Growing Fast

  • $25 million total raised from top-tier investors
  • 500+ startup customers despite being only 3 years old
  • First "AI-native" platform that runs autonomously without dedicated HR teams

Why They're Important:

Warp is specifically designed for fast-growing startups that need sophisticated HR capabilities without dedicated HR teams. Backed by Sound Ventures (Ashton Kutcher), Drew Houston & Arash Ferdowsi (Dropbox), the platform represents the future of autonomous HR operations.

Leadership:

  • CEO: Ayush Sharma. – Co-founder pioneering AI-native HR and payroll automation 
  • Key Background: Technical founder building autonomous HR operations for startups

Recent Funding: $50M Series B (June 2023)

8. RemoFirst — Global Contractor Management & EOR

What They Do:

RemoFirst provides Employer of Record (EOR) services in 100+ countries along with its innovative RemoVisa service for work permits in 85+ countries, launched in 2024. The platform handles the entire visa application process with local law compliance, making it easier for companies to hire globally.

Why They're Growing Fast

  • #4 Most Innovative HR Company 2025 by Fast Company
  • 300% YoY revenue increase projected for 2024
  • 40% customer base expansion in 2024

Why They're Important:

RemoFirst addresses critical international expansion challenges with its unique RemoVisa service for work permits across 85+ countries. Prestigious clients like the World Health Organization and University of Cambridge validate the platform's enterprise-grade capabilities.

Leadership:

  • CEO: Nurasyl Serik – Pioneering global workforce solutions
  • Key Background: Co-founded RemoFirst to simplify international hiring and visa processes

Recent Funding: $25M Series A (March 2024)

9. Ashby — All-in-One Recruiting Platform

What They Do:

Ashby provides an all-in-one recruiting platform with powerful analytics and reporting capabilities, designed for data-driven recruiting teams. The platform competes directly with Greenhouse and Lever but differentiates through its advanced analytics features that help teams optimize their hiring processes.

Why They're Growing Fast

  • $50 million Series D funding led by Alkeon Capital in July 2025
  • Raised $128M in funding from F-Prime Capital. 
  • Deep integrations with HRIS and ATS ecosystems for seamless workflow

Why They're Important:

Ashby's analytics-focused approach appeals to sophisticated recruiting teams that prioritize data over traditional ATS features. The platform's July 2025 Series D funding signals major market validation for analytics-first recruiting solutions.

Leadership:

  • CEO: Abhik Pramanik – Building analytics-first recruiting platforms
  • Key Background: Co-founded Ashby to bring advanced analytics to talent acquisition

Recent Funding: $50M Series D (July 2025)

10. HiBob — HRIS for Mid-Market Companies

What They Do:

HiBob provides a modern HRIS platform specifically designed for mid-size and multinational companies, addressing the gap between SMB-focused platforms and enterprise-heavy solutions like Workday. The platform supports global teams with features that connect corporate offices with distributed locations through newsfeeds and recognition tools.

Why They're Growing Fast:

Why They're Important:

HiBob fills the critical gap between SMB-focused platforms and enterprise-heavy solutions, serving mid-market companies with 200-2,000 employees. The platform's consecutive triple-digit year-over-year growth demonstrates strong product-market fit in this underserved segment.

Leadership:

  • CEO: Ronni Zehavi – Leading mid-market HRIS innovation
  • Key Background: Co-founded HiBob to serve the underserved mid-market company segment

Valuation: 2.7B | Founded: 2015

Recent Funding: $150M Series D

11. ZipRecruiter — Job Board & Recruiting Platform

What They Do:

ZipRecruiter operates as a job board and recruiting platform that uses AI to match qualified candidates to preselected interview times. Its ZipIntro AI tool, launched in 2024, enables instant candidate-employer video connections, fast-tracking face-to-face interactions.

Why They're Growing Fast:

Why They're Important:

ZipRecruiter addresses the highly competitive 2024 job market, which has seen a 10-20% increase in applicant competition. The platform's public company status and mass-market reach provide stability and scale in the recruiting technology landscape.

Leadership:

  • CEO: Ian Siegel – Pioneering AI-powered job matching
  • Key Background: Co-founded ZipRecruiter to revolutionize online recruiting with AI technology

Valuation: 449.22M | Founded: 2010

Recent Funding: $156M Series B (October 2018)

How AI is Transforming HR Tech Selection and Targeting

The rapid growth of these 11 HR tech companies demonstrates how AI is fundamentally reshaping human resources. From AI-native platforms like Warp and Juicebox to AI-enhanced features in established platforms like Gusto's "Gus" assistant, the integration of artificial intelligence has become table stakes in HR technology.

For go-to-market teams looking to engage with these innovative companies, traditional prospecting methods fall short. The complexity of the HR tech landscape, combined with the rapid pace of innovation, requires more sophisticated targeting approaches.

This is where agentic AI platforms like Landbase provide critical advantages. By leveraging natural-language targeting, GTM teams can identify these fast-growing HR tech companies based on specific criteria:

  • Funding-based targeting: "HR tech startups that raised Series B or later funding in 2024 or 2025"
  • Growth-based targeting: "Companies with 20%+ monthly growth in the HR technology space"
  • Innovation-based targeting: "AI-native HR platforms launched in the past 24 months"
  • Specialization-based targeting: "HR tech companies focused on global workforce management or benefits administration"

Landbase's GTM-2 Omni model, trained on billions of data points from 50M+ B2B campaigns, can interpret these natural-language queries and return AI-qualified audiences ready for immediate activation. With access to 300M+ contacts and 24M+ companies across 1,500+ unique signals, Landbase enables precise targeting of these fast-growing HR tech innovators.

How We Selected These 11 Fastest Growing HR Tech Companies

This list was compiled using a rigorous methodology that analyzed:

  • Recent funding activity: Companies with significant funding rounds in 2024-2025, with amounts ranging from $24M (RemoFirst) to $450M (Rippling)
  • Growth velocity: Metrics like Juicebox's 20%+ monthly growth and Findem's 4x ARR growth
  • Market recognition: Fast Company's Most Innovative HR Companies rankings and other industry awards
  • Innovation differentiation: Unique value propositions like Cleo's cancer care focus or Warp's AI-native automation
  • CEO leadership: Verified leadership teams driving these innovations
  • Enterprise adoption: Customer counts ranging from 500+ (Warp) to 25,000+ (Deel)

All data points were verified through multiple sources including Y Combinator profiles, company announcements, Fast Company rankings, and industry reports, ensuring the most current and accurate information for 2025.

Frequently Asked Questions

What defines a 'fastest-growing' HR tech company?

Fastest-growing HR tech companies demonstrate significant growth through recent funding rounds of $10M+ in 2024-2025, substantial ARR growth of 20%+ year-over-year, or major customer acquisition exceeding 500+ companies. These companies are transforming HR functions through AI integration, specialized solutions addressing critical pain points, or comprehensive platform approaches that unify multiple HR workflows. Market recognition through industry awards like Fast Company's Most Innovative HR Companies and validation from top-tier investors like Sequoia Capital, Andreessen Horowitz, and Alkeon Capital further distinguish these leaders from competitors.

How does AI contribute to the growth and innovation of HR tech?

AI has doubled in adoption within HR functions, with 43% of organizations now using AI compared to 26% in 2024, accelerating the growth of AI-native platforms. AI contributes to HR tech growth by enabling autonomous operations like Warp's self-running payroll platform, advanced talent sourcing through Juicebox and Findem's LLM-powered candidate matching, and intelligent compliance assistance via Gusto's "Gus" chatbot. Predictive analytics improve hiring outcomes, employee experience, and operational efficiency, while AI agents automate previously manual tasks like state tax account setup, form filing, and time-off approvals. This transformation has driven over $3 billion in H1 2025 funding, validating AI as the primary growth driver in modern HR technology.

What are the typical funding stages for HR tech startups?

HR tech startups in our list span from Series A rounds of $24M-$30M (RemoFirst and Juicebox) to massive Series G rounds like Rippling's $450M at a $16.8B valuation. Early-stage companies typically raise $10M-$50M in Series A and B rounds to validate product-market fit and scale initial operations, while growth-stage Series C-E rounds of $50M-$300M fund market expansion, international growth, and platform development. Later-stage companies like Deel have raised $679M total funding, while public companies like ZipRecruiter, Paycom, and Gusto (~$10B valuation) demonstrate the potential for massive scale. The industry raised $3 billion+ in H1 2025 alone, showing strong investor confidence across all stages from seed to pre-IPO.

How can businesses leverage the insights from fastest-growing HR tech companies?

Businesses can leverage these insights by benchmarking their current HR tech stack against these innovative leaders to identify gaps in automation, AI capabilities, or specialized solutions like global hiring support or cancer care benefits. Understanding which HR functions receive the most innovation and investment helps prioritize technology upgrades that deliver measurable ROI, such as Cleo's $158,059 projected savings for 10,000-employee companies or Paycom's 200-hour time savings. Companies can evaluate partnership opportunities with these platforms based on their growth stage, specialization, and customer profiles. For B2B vendors targeting HR tech companies, these growth patterns inform effective go-to-market strategies by revealing which segments are attracting capital, which pain points drive adoption, and which customer profiles represent ideal prospects.

How can I identify and target these fast-growing HR tech companies?

Using platforms like Landbase, businesses can identify these fast-growing HR tech companies through natural-language targeting with prompts like "HR tech startups that raised funding in 2024 or 2025" or "AI-powered recruiting platforms with Series B+ funding." Landbase's GTM-2 Omni model processes these queries against 300M+ contacts and 24M+ companies to generate AI-qualified audiences ready for immediate activation. With access to 1,500+ unique signals including funding rounds, hiring activity, technology stack changes, and growth metrics, teams can precisely target companies based on specific criteria like specialization (global payroll vs. recruiting), customer segment (SMB vs. enterprise), or innovation approach (AI-native vs. AI-enhanced). This natural-language approach eliminates manual research and enables sales and marketing teams to identify ideal prospects in seconds rather than weeks.

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