Top 10 HR Software Startups in India

The HR tech industry in India is thriving, with startups developing innovative solutions to address the diverse needs of human resource management. These startups are leveraging technologies like AI, machine learning, and cloud computing to streamline HR processes, improve employee engagement, and enhance productivity. Here’s a detailed look at the top 10 HR software startups in India:

1. Darwinbox

Founded in 2015 in Hyderabad, Darwinbox offers a comprehensive HR management suite that includes recruitment, employee engagement, performance management, payroll, and analytics. The platform is known for its intuitive user interface and scalable solutions, catering to both mid-sized and large enterprises. Darwinbox’s innovative approach has earned it unicorn status, indicating a valuation of over $1 billion and a strong market position.

Known for its intuitive user interface and scalable solutions, Darwinbox is widely adopted by both mid-sized and large enterprises. It recently achieved unicorn status, reflecting its strong market position.

Attribute	Detail
Founded	2015
Headquarters	Hyderabad
Key Features	Comprehensive HR management suite covering recruitment, employee engagement, performance management, payroll, and analytics.
Highlight	Intuitive user interface and scalable solutions; recently achieved unicorn status.

Darwinbox – Top 10 HR Software Startups in India

2. Keka

Keka, established in 2015 in Hyderabad, specializes in payroll processing, attendance management, leave management, performance appraisals, and employee engagement tools. It is highly regarded for its user-friendly interface and effective payroll solutions, making it a popular choice among small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). Keka’s focus on simplicity and efficiency helps businesses manage their HR processes seamlessly. Keka is celebrated for its easy-to-use interface and effective payroll solutions, making it popular among small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).

Attribute	Detail
Founded	2015
Headquarters	Hyderabad
Key Features	Payroll processing, attendance management, leave management, performance appraisals, and employee engagement tools.
Highlight	Easy-to-use interface and effective payroll solutions; popular among small and medium-sized enterprises.

Keka – Top 10 HR Software Startups in India

3. Zoho People

Zoho People, part of Zoho Corporation founded in 1996 and based in Chennai, provides a comprehensive HR management system. Its features include employee database management, leave management, time tracking, performance appraisals, and employee self-service. The platform benefits from seamless integration with other Zoho products, offering a versatile and cohesive solution for businesses of all sizes. Part of the larger Zoho ecosystem, Zoho People benefits from seamless integration with other Zoho products, making it a versatile choice for businesses of all sizes.

Attribute	Detail
Founded	1996 (Zoho Corporation)
Headquarters	Chennai
Key Features	Comprehensive HR management including employee database, leave management, time tracking, performance appraisals, and employee self-service.
Highlight	Seamless integration with other Zoho products; versatile choice for businesses of all sizes.

Zoho People – Top 10 HR Software Startups in India

4. GreytHR

GreytHR, developed by Greytip Software in 1994 in Bengaluru, focuses on payroll management, statutory compliance, leave and attendance management, and employee lifecycle management. The platform is known for its strong emphasis on compliance and payroll accuracy, making it a preferred choice for businesses aiming to ensure regulatory adherence and reduce errors in payroll processing.

Attribute	Detail
Founded	1994 (Greytip Software)
Headquarters	Bengaluru
Key Features	Payroll management, statutory compliance, leave and attendance management, and employee lifecycle management.
Highlight	Strong focus on compliance and payroll accuracy; preferred choice for ensuring regulatory adherence.

GreytHR – Top 10 HR Software Startups in India

5. Qandle

Founded in 2016 in Gurgaon, Qandle offers core HR functions, payroll, expense management, travel management, and advanced analytics. Qandle’s modular approach allows businesses to customize the platform according to their specific needs, providing flexibility and tailored solutions. This adaptability makes Qandle suitable for a wide range of business types and sizes.

Attribute	Detail
Founded	2016
Headquarters	Gurgaon
Key Features	Core HR functions, payroll, expense management, travel management, and advanced analytics.
Highlight	Modular approach allowing tailored solutions; flexibility and customization for businesses.

Qandle – Top 10 HR Software Startups in India

6. ZingHR

ZingHR, founded in 2014 in Mumbai, provides solutions for talent acquisition, onboarding, payroll, performance management, learning and development, and employee engagement. The platform focuses on enhancing the employee experience through AI-driven insights and comprehensive mobile capabilities, aiming to improve overall HR efficiency and employee satisfaction.

ZingHR emphasizes enhancing employee experience through AI-driven insights and comprehensive mobile capabilities.

Attribute	Detail
Founded	2014
Headquarters	Mumbai
Key Features	Talent acquisition, onboarding, payroll, performance management, learning and development, and employee engagement.
Highlight	Emphasizes enhancing employee experience through AI-driven insights and comprehensive mobile capabilities.

ZingHR – Top 10 HR Software Startups in India

7. Adrenalin eSystems

Established in 2002 in Chennai, Adrenalin eSystems offers end-to-end HR solutions including recruitment, performance management, payroll, talent management, learning and development, and employee self-service. The platform is designed for large enterprises, providing robust integration capabilities with other business systems to streamline HR processes and improve productivity.

Adrenalin’s end-to-end HR solutions are designed to cater to large enterprises, offering robust integration capabilities with other business systems.

Attribute	Detail
Founded	2002
Headquarters	Chennai
Key Features	Recruitment, performance management, payroll, talent management, learning and development, and employee self-service.
Highlight	End-to-end HR solutions designed for large enterprises; robust integration capabilities with other business systems.

Adrenalin eSystems – Top 10 HR Software Startups in India

8. sumHR

sumHR, founded in 2012 in Mumbai, caters to startups and SMEs with its solutions for attendance management, leave management, payroll, employee database, and performance reviews. The platform emphasizes simplicity and affordability, ensuring that small businesses can manage their HR functions effectively without a steep learning curve.

sumHR focuses on delivering simple and effective HR solutions for startups and SMEs, ensuring ease of use and affordability.

Attribute	Detail
Founded	2012
Headquarters	Mumbai
Key Features	Attendance management, leave management, payroll, employee database, and performance reviews.
Highlight	Simple and effective HR solutions for startups and SMEs; ensures ease of use and affordability.

sumHR – Top 10 HR Software Startups in India

9. HRMantra

HRMantra, founded in 1996 and based in Mumbai, offers a comprehensive HR management suite that includes recruitment, payroll, attendance, leave, performance, and training management. The platform is known for its extensive feature set and automation capabilities, which aim to reduce administrative burdens on HR teams and streamline HR processes.

Known for its extensive feature set and automation capabilities, HRMantra aims to reduce administrative burdens on HR teams.

Attribute	Detail
Founded	1996
Headquarters	Mumbai
Key Features	Comprehensive HR management suite including recruitment, payroll, attendance, leave, performance, and training management.
Highlight	Extensive feature set and automation capabilities aimed at reducing administrative burdens on HR teams.

HRMantra – Top 10 HR Software Startups in India

10. PeopleStrong

Founded in 2005 in Gurugram, PeopleStrong provides solutions for talent acquisition, core HR, payroll, employee self-service, and people analytics. The platform leverages AI and machine learning to deliver insightful analytics and enhance the overall efficiency of HR processes. PeopleStrong’s innovative use of technology helps businesses make data-driven decisions and improve HR management.

PeopleStrong leverages AI and machine learning to deliver insightful analytics and enhance the overall efficiency of HR processes.

Attribute	Detail
Founded	2005
Headquarters	Gurugram
Key Features	Talent acquisition, core HR, payroll, employee self-service, and people analytics.
Highlight	Leverages AI and machine learning to deliver insightful analytics and enhance the overall efficiency of HR processes.

PeopleStrong – Top 10 HR Software Startups in India

Frequently asked questions and answers of Top 10 HR Software Startups in India:

What is RegTech?

RegTech, short for Regulatory Technology, refers to the use of technology to help businesses comply with regulatory requirements more efficiently and effectively. It encompasses a wide range of software and tools designed to streamline compliance processes, manage regulatory reporting, monitor transactions, and ensure adherence to laws and standards. RegTech solutions leverage advanced technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning, big data, and blockchain to enhance the speed, accuracy, and comprehensiveness of compliance activities.

What is a RegTech Platform?

A RegTech platform is a technology-based solution that provides tools and services to automate and simplify regulatory compliance tasks. These platforms offer features such as real-time monitoring, data analysis, risk management, regulatory reporting, and identity verification. The goal of a RegTech platform is to reduce the burden of compliance for businesses by providing an integrated solution that can handle the complexities of regulatory requirements across different jurisdictions and industries.

Is RegTech an AI?

RegTech itself is not an AI, but it often incorporates AI technologies to improve its functionality. AI can be used within RegTech solutions for tasks such as data analysis, pattern recognition, anomaly detection, natural language processing, and predictive analytics. These AI capabilities enable RegTech solutions to identify potential compliance issues, automate repetitive tasks, and provide deeper insights into regulatory risks.

Who Owns RegTech?

RegTech is not owned by a single entity; it is an industry sector comprising numerous companies that develop and offer regulatory technology solutions. These companies can range from startups to established technology firms, and they may provide specialized services for various industries, such as banking, finance, healthcare, and insurance.

RegTech Companies

Here are some notable RegTech companies:

ComplyAdvantage – Specializes in financial crime detection and AML (Anti-Money Laundering) compliance.
Onfido – Provides identity verification solutions.
Trunomi – Focuses on data privacy and consent management.
Arachnys – Offers tools for customer risk assessment and KYC (Know Your Customer) compliance.
Actico – Provides software for compliance, credit risk, and decision management.

RegTech Companies in India

Some prominent RegTech companies in India include:

Signzy – Provides digital onboarding and identity verification solutions.
CogNext – Specializes in regulatory reporting and risk management.
Fintellix – Offers solutions for regulatory compliance and risk management.
Cygnet GSP – Provides GST compliance and e-invoicing solutions.

What is RegTech in Banking?

RegTech in banking refers to the application of regulatory technology solutions to help banks comply with financial regulations. This includes areas such as anti-money laundering (AML), know your customer (KYC), transaction monitoring, risk management, and regulatory reporting. RegTech solutions in banking aim to enhance compliance efficiency, reduce the risk of regulatory breaches, and lower the costs associated with compliance activities.

RegTech Examples

Identity Verification: Solutions that use biometric data and AI to verify customer identities.
AML Monitoring: Tools that monitor transactions for suspicious activity and ensure compliance with anti-money laundering regulations.
Regulatory Reporting: Platforms that automate the process of generating and submitting regulatory reports to authorities.
Risk Management: Solutions that assess and manage regulatory and compliance risks across an organization.

RegTech Solutions

RegTech solutions include:

Compliance Management Systems: Automate the tracking and management of compliance requirements.
Transaction Monitoring Tools: Real-time monitoring of financial transactions for suspicious activities.
Regulatory Reporting Software: Streamline the preparation and submission of regulatory reports.
KYC and AML Solutions: Automate customer onboarding and ongoing monitoring to meet KYC and AML regulations.

RegTech in Financial Services

In financial services, RegTech solutions help institutions manage regulatory compliance more effectively. This includes monitoring transactions, ensuring data privacy, conducting risk assessments, and maintaining accurate records for regulatory audits. RegTech solutions help financial institutions stay compliant with evolving regulations while minimizing the impact on their operations.

RegTech Ecosystem

The RegTech ecosystem consists of:

Regulators: Government bodies and agencies that enforce compliance requirements.
Financial Institutions: Banks, insurance companies, and other entities that must comply with regulations.
RegTech Companies: Firms that develop and provide regulatory technology solutions.
Service Providers: Consultants and advisory firms that help businesses implement RegTech solutions.

Future of RegTech

The future of RegTech is expected to see increased adoption driven by:

Advancements in AI and Machine Learning: Improved predictive analytics and automation capabilities.
Integration with Blockchain: Enhanced transparency and security in compliance processes.
Expansion to New Sectors: Beyond finance, into healthcare, real estate, and other regulated industries.
Collaboration with Regulators: Development of standardized solutions that meet regulatory expectations.

Conclusion:

These HR software startups in India are driving significant changes in how companies manage their human resources. By providing innovative, scalable, and user-friendly solutions, they are helping businesses streamline their HR functions, improve employee engagement, and boost overall productivity. Whether catering to SMEs or large enterprises, these startups are setting new standards in HR technology and contributing to the growth of the digital economy in India.