Singapore-based HR tech startup BrioHR has raised S$8.7 million (US$6.5 million) in a series A funding round.

The investment was led by Openspace Ventures, with participation from Taiwania Hive Ventures and other regional investors.

The funds will be used to enhance BrioHR’s platform, which offers payroll, compliance, and employee engagement tools to over 1,000 companies across Malaysia, Indonesia, Singapore, and other ASEAN countries.

The company plans to incorporate AI capabilities and expand its presence in Singapore.

CEO and co-founder Benjamin Croc highlighted Singapore’s importance due to the government’s push for digital transformation and AI adoption.

🔗 Source: BrioHR

🧠 Food for thought

1️⃣ HR tech funding in Southeast Asia shows 6x growth since 2017

BrioHR’s S$8.7 million (USD$6.5 million) Series A funding represents a significant scaling of investment compared to early HR tech players in the region.

In 2017, Swingvy raised just $1.1 million in seed funding for its HR software targeting the same Southeast Asian markets that BrioHR now operates in 1.

This increase in funding amounts demonstrates how the HR tech sector has matured in Southeast Asia over an 8-year period, with investors now willing to place larger bets on proven solutions.

The investment reflects growing confidence in HR tech platforms specifically designed for the complex regulatory environments across multiple ASEAN countries, a challenge that early players like Swingvy also identified as their key market opportunity.

2️⃣ SME digital transformation creates fertile ground for HR tech growth

BrioHR’s timing aligns perfectly with Singapore’s accelerating SME digitalization efforts, which face both government support and implementation challenges.

Over 94% of Singapore SMEs have adopted digital solutions in key areas like cybersecurity and cloud computing, creating a tech-ready foundation for specialized solutions like HR platforms 2.

However, 60% of SMEs still attribute slow tech adoption to digital skills gaps, highlighting a disconnect between desire for transformation and implementation capability 3.