US-based HR tech startup Firstwork has raised $15 Mn (over ₹142 Cr) in a Series A funding round led by Earlybird Venture Capital, as it looks to expand its AI-led workforce automation platform across the US and Europe.
The round also saw participation from Legion VC and Deel Ventures, along with existing investors Gradient and Y Combinator. The latest fundraise takes Firstwork’s total funding to $20 Mn since its launch in 2024.
The San Francisco-based startup plans to use the fresh capital to expand its teams across applied AI, AI research, engineering and go-to-market functions. Important to highlight that about 80% of the startup’s workforce operates from Bengaluru.
It also plans to deepen its presence in the US and Europe and extend its AI agents to more workforce operations.
Founded by ex-Deel executives Vardhan Kapoor and Shubham Choudhary, Firstwork uses AI agents to automate HR operations pertaining to frontline workers. These include document verification, background and right-to-work checks, onboarding, training coordination, compliance management and worker follow-ups.
The startup’s platform integrates within existing HR systems, allowing employers to automate workflows without replacing their existing software.
According to Firstwork, more than 1.50 Lakh frontline workers start work through its platform every month. It claims that its platform has helped these customers cut the time spent by workers and HR teams on each new hire by up to 90%. Its clientele features the likes of Deel, Job&Talent, Relay, Wonolo and BGSF.
AI is seeing a broad band adoption in the human resource function and is rechanging the face of enterprise tech globally. While Firstwork is primarily targeting the global market, the Indian is projected to double in value to $2.3 Bn by 2033 from $1.12 Bn in 2024.
Leveraging AI, several Indian startups are building solutions to capture this booming market. For instance, Bengaluru-based Hunar.AI, which raised ₹40 Cr earlier this week, is using conversational AI agents to automate gig-worker hiring, onboarding, training and employee retention. Its clients include Swiggy, Zepto, Croma, Starbucks and Dr Lal PathLabs.
Hyderabad-based TurboHire also raised $6 Mn in a Series A round led by IvyCap Ventures in August 2025 to scale its agentic AI-based recruitment platform. Founded in 2019, the startup automates enterprise hiring workflows and claims to have onboarded more than 120 enterprises, including Cipla, Tata Motors, PwC, Lenskart and Britannia.
Other players operating in adjacent segments include TraqCheck, which offers AI-powered background verification and recruitment agents, and HireBound, which automates candidate sourcing, screening and evaluation, competes with Firstwork
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