Dubai – Sharikat Mubasher:  HR tech startup Cercli raised $12 million in a Series A round led by Germany-based Picus Capital, marking the firm’s first investment in the MENA region.

As per the company’s press release, the round also saw participation from Knollwood Investment Advisory, existing backers Y Combinator, Afore Capital, and COTU Ventures, and several angel investors from leading tech companies including OpenFX, JetHR, Truelayer, and AI71.

Founded by Akeed Azmi and David Reche, Cercli offers a modern, AI-driven platform for enterprises to hire, manage, and pay global teams. The company reported 10x revenue growth over the past year, processing over $100 million in payroll across 50 countries, with clients ranging from startups to large corporates such as Vision Bank, Backlite Media, Huspy, Lean Technologies, and Ziina.

Cercli plans to use the new capital to develop AI-native products, expand into adjacent offerings, and attract global tech talent to the region. Since 2024, the company has recruited professionals from major firms, including Google, Meta, Deel, and Goldman Sachs.