Central, an autonomous back-office platform built specifically for startups, has announced an $8.6 million seed funding round led by First Round Capital. The funding also saw participation from notable investors, including Y Combinator, Ritual Capital, Multimodal Ventures, Alumni Ventures, Surgepoint Capital, and several founders such as Kulveer Taggar, co-founder and CEO of Zeus; JJ Fliegelman, co-founder and CTO of WayUp; and Richard Aberman, co-founder and CPO of WePay.
Central utilizes artificial intelligence to automate a wide range of back-office operations. These include payroll, benefits administration, state registrations, human resources, accounting, taxes, and government filings. Unlike traditional HR and finance platforms, Central integrates seamlessly into Slack, acting as a virtual teammate that manages operations behind the scenes. This approach removes the need for founders to learn complex systems or handle tedious tasks, allowing teams to focus on core business activities.
The company positions itself as a modern alternative to established players such as Rippling, Deel, Gusto, ADP, and Workday, competing with companies valued at billions of dollars. Its AI-first platform provides a comprehensive solution that ensures compliance and reduces operational drag by automating tasks like tax filings, employee onboarding, and benefits management. Built specifically for fast-growing companies, Central helps prevent costly compliance mistakes and accelerates scaling efforts. Customers can message the system within Slack for assistance, and it handles the rest.
The platform is already trusted by hundreds of startups, including Wordware, Wyndly, Poseidon Aerospace, Bitesight, Abel Police, Ulysses, Deepnight, Blaxel, and Diode. To date, Central has processed over $75 million in payroll and has experienced significant customer migration from legacy providers, including Rippling, Gusto, and Deel, reflecting strong demand for a modern, AI-powered back-office solution.
Following this funding round, Central plans to expand its platform features, scale its support team, and develop new integrations aimed at further streamlining the startup back-office experience.
KEY QUOTES:
“Founders don’t start companies to get buried in payroll forms or state compliance filings. This funding allows us to scale what’s working, as hundreds of startups already rely on Central as their AI-powered back office. We’re growing fast because founders want to focus on building, not bureaucracy. Central gives them the operational leverage of a full HR and finance team, without having to hire one.”
Josh Wymer, co-founder and CEO of Central
“Every founder hits a moment where back-office operations start getting in the way of building the business. Central is the first solution we’ve seen that doesn’t just streamline the work, it eliminates it. The team possesses a rare combination of firsthand experience, technical expertise, and a profound understanding of what startups truly need. We’re proud to back Central as they redefine what modern, AI-powered operations should look like.”
Meka Asonye, Partner at First Round Capital
