Cercli Raises $12 Million Series A Round Led by Picus Capital

Cercli (YC S23), a UAE-based startup, has successfully raised $12 million in its Series A funding round, led by Picus Capital, with participation from Knollwood Investment Advisory, Y Combinator, Afore Capital, COTU Ventures, and several angel investors.

This round marks Picus Capital’s first-ever investment in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region, highlighting growing global investor confidence in the region’s rapidly evolving tech landscape.

Cercli provides an intelligent workforce management platform that enables companies to hire globally, manage employees efficiently, and streamline payroll processing — simplifying the complexity of cross-border employment.

Previously, Afore Capital led Cercli’s $4 million seed round, joined by COTU Ventures and Y Combinator.
The company was founded in 2023 by Akeed Azmi and David Reche, combining strong entrepreneurial vision with a deep understanding of global workforce challenges.