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Cercli

YC S23

Dubai, AE · Founded 2023 · 28 employees · 10 known investors

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Cercli is an AI-powered payroll and compliance platform designed for multi-entity, multi-country teams. It processes payroll, automates manual work, and provides 24/7 support for global workforce management.

Also known as Cercli Holdings Limited

AI & Machine LearningEnterprise SoftwareHR TechSaaSPayrollUnited Arab EmiratesMiddle East and North AfricaPartly Remote

Founders & leadership· Y Combinator alumni (S23)

Cercli was founded in 2023 by Akeed Azmi, David Reche, and AE Akeed Azmi.

AAAkeed Azmi
Akeed AzmiCo-FounderAkeed Azmi held growth, expansion, and operations leadership roles at Kitopi and Careem prior to founding Cercli.
DRDavid Reche
David RecheCo-FounderHe previously served as VP of Product and Engineering at Kingmakers, and held product and engineering leadership positions at Careem before its acquisition by Uber in 2020.
AA
AE Akeed AzmiFounder
TF
Thomas FreudigerBusiness Operations Lead
KM
Kaoutar MakrachePayroll \u0026 Compliance Lead
SA
Saeed AlajouOperating Partner
AE
Ahmad ElsaeedMTS
NA
Nour AlahmarMTSformer

Investors · 10

PICUS CAPITALlisted by PICUS CAPITALMunich · $100K – $5M

How we know: PICUS CAPITAL's portfolio page · a partner's Signal profile · funding news · techcrunch.com · the VCSheet dataset · Y Combinator's founder network · Not right? Tell us

Rebel Fundlisted by Rebel FundSan Francisco · $100K – $5M

How we know: Y Combinator's founder network · rebelfund.vc · Not right? Tell us

Y Combinatorlisted by Y CombinatorSan Francisco · $500K

How we know: the Y Combinator directory · techcrunch.com · open dataset · 5k.vc investor directory · Not right? Tell us

Acadian Ventures Management, LlcreportedMadison · $500K – $2M

How we know: a partner's Signal profile · Not right? Tell us

Afore CapitalreportedSan Francisco · $500K – $2M

How we know: a partner's Signal profile · entrepreneur.com · Y Combinator's founder network · Not right? Tell us

Allison Pickens VenturesreportedWayne · $250K – $1M

How we know: a partner's Signal profile · Not right? Tell us

COTU Venturesreported$150K – $2M

How we know: techcrunch.com · the VCSheet dataset · open dataset · 5k.vc investor directory · Y Combinator's founder network · Not right? Tell us

Knollwood Investment AdvisoryreportedHunt Valley

How we know: techcrunch.com · Y Combinator's founder network · Not right? Tell us

Also in the syndicate · 1

AI71

Funding

SEC filings, press & company announcements

$12M disclosed across 1 of 3 rounds · 2024–2025

Source: company announcements and press reports — follow each round's link for the claim.

Related companies · 10

DeelDeel is a global HR platform that enables businesses to hire, onboard, and manage employees and contractors across borders. The platform handles payroll, compliance, and HR administration for companies managing international workforces.
malibouMalibou provides an HR and payroll management platform for small and medium businesses, combining digital tools for employee management (contracts, absences, leave, interviews, documents) with dedicated expert payroll support.
RipplingRippling is a workforce management platform that unifies HR, IT, finance, and employee data across a business. It integrates with 600+ applications to help organizations operate more efficiently.
CentralCentral provides a platform with security features including multi-factor authentication and fraud monitoring for user accounts and financial transactions.
WarpWarp is a software platform that automates operational tasks including payroll, tax compliance, and administrative work for fast-growing companies. The platform uses AI to handle complexity in jurisdictional and compliance challenges that traditionally required manual processing.
HammrHammr provides payroll, HR, and operations software purpose-built for construction contractors and specialty firms managing government and commercial projects. The platform consolidates prevailing wage, certified payroll, and administrative functions to reduce manual work.
Papaya GlobalPapaya Global is a workforce payments platform that runs payroll, employer-of-record hiring, contractor management and cross-border payments for companies employing people in more than 160 countries. Founded in 2016 by Eynat Guez, Ofer Herman and Ruben Drong, it treats global payroll as a payments problem and holds its own payment licences after acquiring Azimo in 2022.
SHRMSHRM, a human resources professional organization with influence over 362 million workers worldwide, provides guidance on managing workplace civility and conflict through executive thought leadership and strategic resources for organizations.
IntuitIntuit develops financial software products—including TurboTax, Credit Karma, QuickBooks, and Mailchimp—for consumers and small businesses to manage taxes, credit, accounting, and marketing. It serves approximately 100 million customers worldwide.
SkuadSkuad is a platform that helps companies hire, onboard, pay, and manage remote employees and contractors across 160+ countries. It provides compliant employment contracts, payroll processing, tax compliance, benefits administration, and talent matching services for global teams.

Companies working in the same space as Cercli.

Legal entities · 1

corporate structure
Cercli Holdings Limited

In the news

Cercli Raises $12 Million in Series A | The SaaS Newsthesaasnews.com · Oct 2025YC alum Cercli, an AI-powered Rippling for MENA, raises oversubscribed $12M Series A | TechCrunchtechcrunch.com · Oct 2025Cercli Raises $4M in Seed Fundingfinsmes.com · Sep 2024Cercli 💸🌀 – Automating payroll, HR, compliance, onboarding & more for MENAycombinator.com · Aug 2023

Frequently asked questions

What does Cercli do?
Cercli is an AI-powered payroll and compliance platform designed for multi-entity, multi-country teams. It processes payroll, automates manual work, and provides 24/7 support for global workforce management.
Who founded Cercli?
Cercli was founded by Akeed Azmi, David Reche, AE Akeed Azmi in 2023.
Who are Cercli's investors?
Cercli's investors include Maiora Rebel Ventures, PICUS CAPITAL, Rebel Fund, Y Combinator, Acadian Ventures Management, Llc, Afore Capital, Allison Pickens Ventures, COTU Ventures and 1 more.
How much funding has Cercli raised?
Cercli has disclosed $12M raised across 1 of its 3 known rounds.
Where is Cercli headquartered?
Cercli is headquartered in Dubai, AE.