Announcing CandorIQ’s Seed Raise (And Why Workforce Planning Needs a Revolution)

We recently closed a $4.8M seed round, and I wanted to take a moment to share what that means—not just for CandorIQ, but for the future of compensation and workforce planning.

The round was led by the incredible teams at Array Ventures, Switch Ventures, and CRV, with support from some of the most thoughtful people operators and founders we’ve had the privilege to work with. It’s a milestone we’re proud of—and one that reflects just how urgent this moment is for HR and Finance leaders.

This funding didn’t happen overnight. It’s the result of consistent, focused execution over the last few years, as we built CandorIQ into a platform that quietly powers the compensation and headcount planning of some of the most forward-thinking companies today.

But this isn’t just a fundraise post. It’s a callout of a problem most companies are still struggling to see clearly.

Because here’s the thing: workforce spend is a $70B blindspot—and it’s about time we fix it.

The $70B Opportunity Hiding in Plain Sight

We’re not the only ones who see it. As Forbes recently put it, compensation has been the “blind spot” of HR and Finance tech—despite being the #1 spend for nearly every company.

Most organizations are still managing comp cycles, headcount planning, and approvals in messy spreadsheets, disconnected HR tools, and Slack threads that vanish into oblivion. These aren’t minor inefficiencies. They’re risk areas—where great employees slip through the cracks, budgets explode, and companies lose their grip on one of their most critical investments: their people.

At CandorIQ, we’re changing that. Our platform brings HR, Finance, and Executive teams together in one place to make smarter, faster, and more strategic decisions about compensation and headcount.

Why Now: Three Forces Shaping the Future of Workforce Spend

This raise is a milestone for us, but it’s also validation of what we’ve been hearing from customers and seeing in the market:

1. The macro environment is tight

Companies are being asked to do more with less. Hiring has slowed. Budgets are under scrutiny. But expectations haven’t changed—if anything, they’ve grown. Leaders need to make smarter bets, move faster, and prove ROI across every headcount and comp decision.

2. The modern workforce is more complex than ever

We’re no longer in the era of co-located 9-to-5 teams. Between remote-first policies, international hiring, and the rise of the contingent workforce, org design and workforce planning have become exponentially harder. The old tools weren’t built for this—and they’re breaking under the pressure.

3. Demand for automation and AI is surging

Back office teams—especially HR and Finance—are being stretched thin. The appetite for intelligent automation is real, and not just for flashy demos. Teams want real outcomes. Real time saved. Real impact.

How CandorIQ Is Solving These Problems Today

We’re not waiting for the future to build the solution. We’ve been heads down building for it. Here’s what we’re already doing for our customers:

Connecting your systems, not replacing them

CandorIQ integrates with your existing HRIS, payroll, and ATS systems—giving you a single source of truth for all things compensation and headcount. No more reconciling spreadsheets across tools that don’t talk to each other.

Saving real time (and money)

Our customers save 2.5x the time on running compensation cycles. We’ve helped companies identify overlapping headcount plans that could save six figures in a single review. And our churn risk flagging tools catch top performers before they leave.

Making comp analysis instant

What used to take your comp analyst days now takes minutes. Our AI-powered tools can run scenario models, suggest adjustments, and flag outliers—without relying on manual digging.

Supporting orgs of all sizes

For SMBs, we help you set strong foundations for scalable comp and headcount practices. For enterprise customers, we’re the connective tissue across fragmented systems—modernizing your entire planning workflow.

Where We’re Going Next

This fundraise isn’t about celebrating what we’ve done—it’s about where we’re going.

With this capital, we’re doubling down on building the tools that modern people teams actually need:

More AI agents for back office operations

We’re building out intelligent agents that go beyond compensation—streamlining the daily workflows of HRBPs, comp analysts, and finance partners.

Deeper enterprise-grade workflows

We’re investing in more robust approval flows, permissions, and integrations to support larger orgs with complex needs.

More personalization and customization

No two companies manage compensation the same way (and each person who works in compensation has different needs per their role). Our platform is becoming even more configurable, so companies can adapt CandorIQ to fit their unique structures, cycles, and comp philosophies.

What This Means to Me Personally

When we started CandorIQ, we had one goal: to take the most complex, frustrating parts of managing compensation and headcount—and make them easier, smarter, and more strategic.

Because we believe people teams should be able to operate like product and finance teams—with better tools, clearer data, and real decision-making power.

This raise gives us more runway to keep building toward that goal.
But more importantly, it’s a sign that the market is finally catching up to the problem we’ve been solving from day one.

We’re incredibly grateful to our investors, customers, and the team that’s made this possible. And we’re just getting started.

If you’re building a modern people strategy—or if your compensation process still lives in spreadsheets—we'd love to show you what we're working on.

Thanks for being part of the journey. Onward 🚀

— Haris