In a powerful statement of appreciation for its workforce, Darwinbox, one of India’s most promising Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) unicorns, has completed a ₹86 crore Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP) buyback. This marks the third such buyback initiative by the company in just four years. The move underscores the company’s unwavering focus on employee wealth creation and long-term talent retention.
This buyback program has directly benefited more than 350 employees across Darwinbox’s 11 global offices, spanning regions like India, North America, Southeast Asia, and the Middle East. Employees who have contributed to the company’s growth now have the opportunity to convert their equity into substantial financial gains, which not only enhances motivation but also builds lasting trust between the organization and its people.
A Culture of Ownership and Shared Success
Darwinbox’s co-founder, Chaitanya Peddi, emphasized that talent is central to everything the company stands for. He said, “Talent has always been at the heart of what we do at Darwinbox, and we’ve been intentional about ensuring they grow with the company — not just in impact, but also in wealth creation.” His words reflect the deep-rooted culture of shared ownership and recognition that Darwinbox has been promoting since its early years.
The buyback is not just a reward; it’s a celebration of the people who built the platform. At a time when startups are focusing on performance and efficiency, Darwinbox is showing that investing in employee success is as critical as customer satisfaction. With this third buyback round, Darwinbox joins a small league of Indian startups consistently conducting ESOP liquidations to empower their teams financially.
Backed by Global Investment Giants
In March 2025, Darwinbox raised $140 million in funding, a significant financial boost led by global private equity firms KKR and Partners Group. This fresh funding not only reflects investor confidence in Darwinbox’s vision but also enables the company to execute its ambitious growth plans more aggressively.
With this capital, Darwinbox aims to expand its global footprint, particularly in high-growth markets across Asia, the Middle East, and North America. The funding is also being used to strengthen R&D efforts, allowing the company to stay at the forefront of AI innovation in HR technology.
This capital infusion came at a time when businesses across the world are increasingly seeking cloud-based, AI-powered HR solutions, giving Darwinbox a unique opportunity to become a global category leader in HR tech.
Pioneering an AI-First HR Tech Platform
Darwinbox is not just scaling in terms of people and geography — it’s also evolving technologically. In the past year, the company has launched several groundbreaking AI products that are transforming how HR teams operate. One of the most notable launches is the MCP Server (Model Context Protocol), a proprietary system that allows AI agents to securely interact with HR data and workflows. This innovation enhances data protection while enabling greater automation and intelligence in decision-making.
Another significant product launch is Darwinbox Sense, the company’s in-house Generative AI (GenAI) engine. This product is designed to integrate over 40 embedded AI capabilities across the Darwinbox platform, empowering HR teams to make faster, data-driven decisions. From predicting employee attrition to automating interview scheduling, Darwinbox Sense helps streamline end-to-end HR operations.
These AI-first initiatives are positioning Darwinbox as a thought leader in enterprise software, especially in the HR domain where AI can reduce administrative overhead and boost employee satisfaction.
Entering New Geographies with a Multi-Country Payroll System
Alongside its technological advancements, Darwinbox has made strong strides in geographic expansion. In the past year, it launched a comprehensive multi-country payroll solution that now serves clients across 10 new international markets. This system allows HR teams to manage payroll processing, tax calculations, and statutory compliance seamlessly — regardless of the country of operation.
This is especially valuable for companies with distributed global workforces, where managing local payroll laws can be a significant challenge. By offering a unified platform that supports regional compliance, Darwinbox is solving one of the most critical pain points for global HR leaders.
Trusted by Global Brands and Serving 1,000+ Enterprises
Founded in 2015, Darwinbox is backed by marquee investors like Peak XV (formerly Sequoia Capital India) and Lightspeed Venture Partners. Over the past decade, the company has grown from a homegrown startup into a global SaaS powerhouse.
Its cloud-based Human Resource Management System (HRMS) is used by more than 1,000 enterprises worldwide. The platform covers every aspect of human resource management, from recruitment and onboarding to employee engagement, performance evaluations, and learning & development.
Renowned global brands such as Starbucks, McDonald’s, Airtel, AXA, Cigna, WeWork, and Vedanta rely on Darwinbox to handle their complex HR needs. The system is designed to be modular, scalable, and deeply customizable, offering value to both fast-growing startups and large multinational corporations.
Inspiring Industry Standards in Employee Rewards
Darwinbox’s ESOP buyback is not just significant for its employees — it’s also setting a new benchmark in the Indian startup ecosystem. By executing three ESOP buybacks within four years, the company is proving that employee wealth creation can be systematic, consistent, and inclusive.
This move is expected to inspire other SaaS companies and tech startups in India to adopt similar practices, building a culture where long-term team members are rewarded for their loyalty and hard work. It also boosts the startup’s attractiveness to prospective hires who see tangible benefits in joining high-growth, employee-centric organizations.
With the global startup ecosystem increasingly focusing on employee retention, culture, and well-being, Darwinbox’s approach is both timely and visionary.
Vision for the Future: Redefining Work with AI
As Darwinbox looks ahead, its mission is to redefine the future of work using artificial intelligence. The company is investing aggressively in AI-driven products, expanding its international reach, and continuing to enhance its core platform with user-centric, intelligent features.
Its future roadmap includes building deeper AI integrations, launching more country-specific features, and forming strategic partnerships with governments, institutions, and global enterprises. With digital transformation accelerating globally, Darwinbox aims to become the go-to HR platform for companies looking to modernize their workforce management.
Chaitanya Peddi and his co-founders envision a world where AI helps HR become more proactive, data-driven, and human-centric, a world where technology complements empathy — and Darwinbox is actively building that reality.
The ₹86 crore ESOP buyback in 2025 is a celebration of employee excellence, vision-driven leadership, and investor confidence. It’s a powerful reminder that when a company invests in its people, it builds not just a team but a community that fuels innovation and growth.
By prioritizing employee ownership, launching cutting-edge AI solutions, and expanding into new global markets, Darwinbox is setting a new gold standard for Indian SaaS companies on the global stage. Its journey is far from over, and with every milestone, it is proving that tech-powered, people-first growth is the future of business.
