Remote is a human resources technology platform that provides payroll and compliance services for companies with distributed workforces and contractors. Founded in 2019 by Job van der Voort and Marcelo Lebre, Remote operates fully remotely without physical offices. The company's mission is to simplify global employment by enabling businesses to hire and manage talent worldwide without the need to establish local entities. Remote's vision is to create a world where every person and business can participate in the global economy, regardless of location.
Key Strategic Focus
Remote's strategic focus centers on offering comprehensive Employer of Record (EOR) services, allowing companies to hire employees globally while ensuring compliance with local labor laws. The company specializes in payroll management, benefits administration, tax compliance, and HR support. Key technologies utilized include a proprietary platform that automates onboarding, payroll processing, and compliance tasks. Remote primarily targets businesses seeking to expand their global workforce without the complexities of establishing legal entities in multiple countries.
Financials and Funding
Since its inception, Remote has experienced significant growth through multiple funding rounds:
- April 2020: Secured $11 million in seed funding.
- November 2020: Raised $35 million in Series A funding.
- July 2021: Closed a $150 million Series B round, achieving unicorn status with a valuation exceeding $1 billion.
- April 2022: Expanded funding with a $300 million Series C round, bringing the total funds raised to $495 million and valuing the company at approximately $3 billion.
Notable investors include Sequoia Capital, Index Ventures, Accel, Two Sigma Ventures, and General Catalyst. The capital has been utilized to enhance Remote's platform capabilities, expand service offerings, and scale operations to meet the growing demand for global employment solutions.
Pipeline Development
Remote has continually developed and launched new products to address the evolving needs of global employment:
- September 2023: Introduced the Global HR Platform, including the Remote HRIS, offering talent management, time and attendance tracking, and integrated payroll for employers with workers in multiple countries.
- October 2023: Launched Remote Talent, a job marketplace connecting employers with remote workers worldwide.
- February 2024: Released Contractor Management Plus, a tool designed to help employers avoid contractor misclassification by automating onboarding, record-keeping, and localized contract generation in over 200 countries.
- January 2025: Introduced Contractor of Record service to manage international contractors by handling legal responsibilities such as onboarding, invoicing, tax management, and payments, reducing compliance risks.
Technological Platform and Innovation
Remote's platform is distinguished by several proprietary technologies and methodologies:
- Proprietary Platform: Automates the complexities of global employment, including onboarding, payroll processing, tax compliance, and benefits administration.
- AI-Driven Capabilities: Utilizes artificial intelligence to enhance candidate matching in the Remote Talent marketplace, improving the efficiency and accuracy of the hiring process.
- Compliance Automation: Incorporates tools like Contractor Management Plus to automate compliance tasks, reducing the risk of contractor misclassification and ensuring adherence to local labor laws.
Leadership Team
Remote's leadership comprises experienced professionals with backgrounds in technology and human resources:
- Job van der Voort: Co-founder and CEO, previously Vice President of Product at GitLab.
- Marcelo Lebre: Co-founder and COO, formerly Vice President of Engineering at Unbabel.
Their combined expertise has been instrumental in steering Remote's growth and innovation in the global employment sector.
Leadership Changes
In September 2022, Job van der Voort was honored with the LOEY Award, recognizing his significant contributions to the entrepreneurial ecosystem. In September 2023, Marcelo Lebre received the inaugural Prémio Ecossistema from Startup Lisboa and Unicorn Factory Lisboa, acknowledging his impact on Portugal's entrepreneurial landscape.
Competitor Profile
Market Insights and Dynamics
The global employment services market has experienced substantial growth, driven by the increasing adoption of remote work and the need for businesses to access talent worldwide. Companies are seeking solutions that enable them to hire, manage, and pay employees across different jurisdictions while ensuring compliance with local laws.
Competitor Analysis
Remote operates in a competitive landscape with several key players:
- Deel: Offers global payroll and compliance services, enabling companies to hire international employees and contractors. Deel provides automated payroll processing in over 150 countries and supports various contract types.
- Rippling: Combines HR, IT, and finance management into a single platform, offering global payroll and EOR services. Rippling emphasizes automation and integration, streamlining workflows across business functions.
- Oyster: Provides EOR services, allowing companies to hire talent in over 180 countries. Oyster focuses on compliance, payroll, and benefits administration, facilitating global workforce management.
- Papaya Global: Specializes in global payroll and workforce management, offering EOR services in over 100 countries. Papaya Global emphasizes compliance and automation in payroll processing.
These competitors offer similar services, each with unique features and pricing structures, contributing to a dynamic and evolving market.
Strategic Collaborations and Partnerships
Remote has engaged in strategic collaborations to enhance its service offerings:
- June 2023: Entered a revenue-sharing arrangement with HR tech company Gusto, expanding its reach and capabilities in global payroll and compliance services.
- November 2024: Partnered with Kota to streamline global employee benefits management, introducing Remote Global Benefits to enable companies to manage multi-country health insurance and comply with local regulations seamlessly.
Operational Insights
Remote's strategic considerations in relation to major competitors include:
- Market Position: Remote differentiates itself by owning its EOR entities in multiple countries, ensuring greater service quality and consistency compared to competitors that rely on third-party entities.
- Competitive Advantages: The company's proprietary platform, AI-driven capabilities, and comprehensive compliance automation provide a competitive edge in the global employment services market.
Strategic Opportunities and Future Directions
Remote's strategic roadmap includes:
- Expansion of Service Offerings: Continuing to develop and launch new products and services to address the evolving needs of global employment, such as enhanced compliance tools and benefits management solutions.
- Geographical Expansion: Extending its EOR services to additional countries, enabling more businesses to hire and manage talent worldwide.
- Technological Innovation: Investing in AI and automation to further streamline global employment processes and enhance the user experience for clients and their employees.
Contact Information
- Website: Remote
- LinkedIn: Remote on LinkedIn
- Twitter: @remote
- Facebook: Remote on Facebook
Remote's comprehensive suite of services, strategic partnerships, and commitment to innovation position it as a leading player in the global employment services market.
