How This BLOCK71 Startup Is Transforming HR—And Raised $7.4M to Do It
Dear friend of BLOCK71,
Picture this: A HR management system that eliminates tedious manual work, letting your team focus on what truly matters—your people.
Enter Omni HR.
When former Goldman Sachs executive Brian Ip and seasoned data engineer YC Chan founded Omni HR in 2021, they had one goal: create a platform that understands Asia’s multicultural nuances and local payroll practices, something which global alternatives don’t fully address.
Omni HR is powered by experienced HR professionals and passionate technologists. Photo credit: Omni HR.
Their solution: A digital platform that automates the entire employee lifecycle, empowering companies to thrive in today’s remote and mobile-first world. Brian had witnessed firsthand how outdated HR systems and basic administrative tools were crippling teams, especially as workplaces became increasingly borderless.
Today, Omni HR serves hundreds of organisations across 79 countries and in December 2024, armed with $7.4 million in fresh funding, the team is more than ready to double-down on their commitment in making HR management truly seamless all across Asia.
“It Is Impossible To Build A HR SaaS For Asia”, Skeptics Declared.
But as with all success stories, skeptics were scattered like guard posts along an unmarked border – challenging every step into new territory.
Asia’s complex HR landscape seemed too daunting for a startup to tackle. Each country’s distinct employment laws demanded meticulous localisation, while businesses remained hesitant to abandon their familiar yet outdated systems.
Despite this, Brian and YC saw opportunity when others saw obstacles. And the pandemic brought about the very tailwind they needed.
The Rise of Remote Work Created The Rise of Omni HR
As work-from-home exploded and cross-border employment became the norm, companies desperately needed a solution that could navigate Asia’s regulatory maze. Enter Omni HR’s all-in-one platform, filling gaps that global HRIS solutions often missed.
Investors backed their bold vision to become “The Operating System for HR” across Asia. Why? Because beyond technology, Omni HR’s true value is in enabling companies to scale by focusing on talent instead of paperwork.
Brian and YC’s journey proved that true entrepreneurship requires equal parts of innovation, grit and timing. Their journey is a classic example of showing what’s possible when you go all in on your vision and we are just glad that we could be part of that journey!
Ready to write your own success story? Incubate with us at BLOCK71 today.