Pre-employment screening solutions provider Checkmate announced Tuesday it has successfully raised US$1.6 million in seed funding from the Singapore-based early-stage VC Wavemaker Partners.

In a statement, the New Zealand company said the funds would be used to support its expansion into the United States and Southeast Asia, particularly the Philippines, as well as to improve its tech infrastructure.

Founded in 2019, Checkmate addresses lengthy hiring processes and other recruitment challenges, as demand for effective hiring services rises across Southeast Asia. Its platform integrates pre-employment background checks and reference verifications, simplifying the hiring process for organizations.