PaidHR, the Nigerian HR tech startup transforming payroll and human resource management across Africa, has closed a $1.8 million seed round to accelerate its mission of improving workforce operations and financial inclusion on the continent.
The investment was led by Accion Venture Lab, with strong participation from existing investors Zrosk, Chui Ventures, and Zedcrest Capital.
Founded in 2020 in Nigeria, PaidHR has rapidly expanded its footprint across Pan-African markets, reaching small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and tech startups in Nigeria, Kenya, and South Africa.
The majority of its users are logistics, retail, and manufacturing businesses with under 200 employees, many of which have long relied on manual, time-consuming processes that create inefficiencies and compliance gaps.
PaidHR’s all-in-one platform allows these businesses to scale efficiently and improve employee wellbeing by formalizing HR processes, automating both local and cross-border payroll, ensuring full regulatory compliance, and offering tailored financial services to employees.
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With sub-Saharan Africa expected to account for half of all new entrants into the global labor force by 2030, the need for workforce solutions is becoming more urgent.
Currently, 44 million SMEs across the continent provide an estimated 80% of jobs, yet many remain informal and unable to deliver HR or financial services to their workers.
In Nigeria, 83% of the workforce lacks access to credit and struggles to meet basic and emergency needs.
To address this, PaidHR offers earned wage access (EWA), enabling employees to receive a portion of their salary before payday.
This helps reduce dependence on predatory loans and alleviates financial stress.
The platform also features a multi-currency wallet, allowing users to receive payments and save in both local currency and USD, a key tool in regions affected by currency instability.
In addition, PaidHR leverages payroll data to connect workers to broader financial tools such as credit and savings plans, in partnership with financial service providers.
“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,” said Seye Bandele, CEO of PaidHR.
“With the support of Accion Venture Lab and our returning investors, we are well-positioned to help small businesses grow and scale more effectively across borders.”
Amee Parbhoo, managing partner at Accion Venture Lab, added: “PaidHR’s integrated platform is tackling deep-rooted structural challenges faced by small businesses and their employees in underserved markets, starting in Nigeria.
By combining human resources automation with embedded financial services like earned wage access and USD savings, the platform not only improves how businesses operate, but seeks to deliver meaningful financial inclusion for workers.
We are proud to support the team as they deliver scalable, cost-effective solutions that help strengthen small businesses and enable employees to take control of their financial lives.”
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