Nigerian startup PaidHR has secured $1.8 million in seed funding to accelerate its mission of transforming payroll and human resource management across Africa. The funding round was led by Accion Venture Lab, with continued support from existing investors Zrosk Investment Management, Chui Ventures, and Zedcrest Capital.
Solving Africa’s Payroll and HR Challenges
Founded in 2020 by Seye Bandele and Lekan Omotosho, PaidHR is building a unified payroll and HR management platform tailored for African businesses. The platform offers an all-in-one solution that includes:
- Payroll automation
- Human Resources Information System (HRIS)
- Compliance and tax filing
- Performance management
- Earned wage access (EWA)
- Cross-border payroll in 49 currencies
By enabling employers to pay workers in their local currencies while navigating complex international payroll regulations, PaidHR empowers startups, SMEs, and large enterprises to scale efficiently across African markets.
New Capital for Product Growth and Regional Expansion
Prior to this round, PaidHR had raised a pre-seed round of $500,000 in 2022, and quietly secured an additional $600,000 in 2023. With the new $1.8 million seed investment, the company will focus on:
- Accelerating product development
- Expanding customer success and support teams
- Growing market presence across Africa’s enterprise and SME sectors
- Enhancing employee financial wellness and compliance automation tools
“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,”
– Seye Bandele, Co-founder & CEO, PaidHR
Backing from Accion Venture Lab and Global Investors
Accion Venture Lab, a pioneer in early-stage inclusive fintech investing, led the seed round and sees PaidHR’s platform as a powerful tool for enabling financial inclusion and operational resilience for businesses and workers alike.
“PaidHR is addressing structural inefficiencies that have long constrained small businesses and limited financial access for employees,”
– Amee Parbhoo, Managing Partner, Accion Venture Lab.
“Their integrated approach—combining HR automation with embedded finance tools like earned wage access and USD savings—helps businesses grow and gives workers more control over their financial lives.”
The Future of Work in Africa Starts with Localized Tools
As digital transformation accelerates across the continent, workforce management and compensation platforms like PaidHR are becoming critical infrastructure. The startup’s Africa-first design philosophy, combined with scalable technology and deep regulatory understanding, gives it a significant edge in reshaping how African businesses manage people and pay.
With this new capital injection and growing interest from employers navigating cross-border operations, PaidHR is positioning itself as a leading HR-tech solution in Africa’s rapidly evolving digital economy.
