Parento, a New York-based startup focused on transforming how companies support working parents, has announced the close of a $5.9 million Seed II funding round. Led by ResilienceVC, the round included participation from Kapor Capital, Bread & Butter Ventures, Operator Stack, Coyote Ventures, ffVC, Human Ventures, Springbank, Precursor, Cross Impact, K Street, Evidenced, and Avesta. This brings Parento’s total funding to $10.3 million and marks a significant step in its mission to make paid parental leave accessible to businesses of all sizes.
The company’s core offering is a three-in-one platform that combines paid parental leave insurance, leave management services, and personalized coaching for parents. This model is designed to help small and mid-sized businesses—many of which lack the resources to offer traditional parental leave—provide comprehensive support to employees during pregnancy, adoption, or foster placement. Unlike short-term disability programs or policy consulting services, Parento’s insurance product offers up to 100% financial coverage. It is tailored to meet the needs of diverse industries, including nonprofit organizations and the manufacturing sector.
Parento’s approach is already delivering measurable results. Ninety-five percent of employees using its program return to work after leave, compared to just 60–65% for self-funded programs. Its coaching services achieve engagement rates of 10% among full-time employees, far exceeding the typical 1% utilization rate of standard employee assistance programs. Notably, nearly half of all claims are filed by men, and up to one-third of male employees use the coaching services—highlighting the platform’s inclusive design and impact.
The new funding will support product development, expand sales and marketing efforts, and enable the launch of additional insurance offerings. Parento is also entering new markets through strategic partnerships. One significant milestone is its collaboration with the International Union of Operating Engineers (IUOE), one of the largest unions in the U.S., which extends Parento’s services to blue-collar workers in states without paid family leave and marks its first international expansion into Canada.
Additionally, Parento has partnered with one of the largest Professional Employer Organizations (PEOs) in the country, allowing it to reach hundreds of thousands of small businesses through established distribution channels. These partnerships are key to Parento’s broader goal of democratizing access to paid parental leave and supporting working families across industries.
The company’s board now includes ResilienceVC, joining an all-female slate of directors alongside founder and CEO Dirk Doebler. And this reflects Parento’s commitment to addressing workplace equity issues that disproportionately affect women, while maintaining a gender-neutral approach that supports all parents equally.
Launched in 2019, Parento continues to serve clients across healthcare, law, professional services, municipal organizations, and beyond. Its platform is redefining how parental leave is delivered, turning unpredictable costs into manageable premiums and helping companies attract and retain talent in a competitive labor market.
KEY QUOTES:
“Parenthood is not gendered, and paid parental leave is not just for Silicon Valley or STEM, but for every workplace interested in employee wellness, talent acquisition, and retention. As demand grows and the definition of family evolves to match reality, there’s a systemic need for a true solution. Parento makes paid parental leave affordable and attainable for every company, regardless of size or budget.”
Dirk Doebler, Founder and CEO of Parento
“Parento aligns exceptionally well with our thesis of investing in innovative companies that close gaps of access, opportunity, and outcomes for underserved communities by tackling a critical shortfall in the U.S. benefits system, especially for businesses that traditionally lack the resources to offer paid family leave. Their model turns an unpredictable business expense into manageable monthly costs while delivering comprehensive support that helps companies attract and retain talented parents.”
Brandon Boros, Venture Partner with Kapor Capital
“We’re thrilled to join Parento’s board and support a company that’s tackling one of the most critical workplace equity issues of our time. Parento’s inclusive approach to parental leave, combined with their proven ability to make these benefits accessible to businesses of all sizes, aligns perfectly with our mission to build financial resilience for all Americans. We’re excited to support Parento to democratize parental leave access across industries and enable employees to maintain income stability.”
Tahira Dosani, co-founder and managing partner at ResilienceVC
