HR tech platform AdvantageClub.ai has raised $4 million in a funding round led by Axilor Ventures.  The round also saw participation from investors including AFG Ventures, Bytez Ventures, Prasanna Sarkar (former CTO of Rippling), and existing investors.

"We are delighted to secure this significant investment from such a distinguished group. Our strong market position in Asia, where we dominate 65-70% of the deals, is a testament to our employee-centric approach," Sourabh Deorah, CEO of AdvantageClub.ai told us. "This funding will enable us to further our mission of creating happier and healthier workplaces leveraging AI innovations like our recently launched AI bot, Adva. "

This strategic cash infusion catapults AdvantageClub.ai's total funding to $11 million.  The company plans to use the investment to pursue three key objectives: expanding its presence in the US and other Asian markets, prioritising employee wellness, and advancing AI innovation.

The funds will drive advancements in AI capabilities, including new products like wellness programmes, OPD plans, fitness initiatives, and health checkups, complementing its flagship rewards and recognition platform, according to the company.

Following the successful launch of Adva, the AI-powered bot for employee engagement, AdvantageClub.ai plans to introduce new AI solutions to tackle key workplace challenges, in the coming months. 

In India, the company manages an employee well-being budget of ₹300 crore within a total employee engagement budget of ₹1,000 crore, with plans to scale operations to meet the increasing demand for employee engagement initiatives.

Founded in 2016 by Sourabh and Smiti Bhatt Deorah, AdvantageClub.ai has doubled its revenue, reaching ₹323 crore ($39 million) in FY23, up 93.4% from ₹167 crore in FY22, while serving over 5.5 million users across 100+ countries.

Companies like Concentrix, BCG, Tech Mahindra, and Tata Steel use its platform to boost employee engagement.

“We are particularly excited about our new wellness initiatives, including OPD plans, fitness programs, and health checkups, which will be integrated into our platform,” Sourabh said.

On the AI front, Sourabh shared that AdvantageClub.ai has been integrating AI into their operations for quite some time. With his background in machine learning from UCLA, he emphasised that AI has always been at the core of their work. 

Sourabh highlighted platform leakage as a major industry challenge, where funds are lost when employees leave. AdvantageClub.ai's "anti-leakage" model, which charges only for value delivered, has resulted in a remarkable 90% redemption rate, significantly exceeding the industry average of 60%.

The company is now focusing heavily on generative AI and machine learning, aiming to create even more personalized and relevant experiences for employees.

Smiti Bhatt Deorah, COO and Co-founder of AdvantageClub.ai, said, “Our employee-first approach has made us the top choice for organizations in Asia, winning 65-70% of new recognition deals.”

Ganapathy Venugopal, CEO of Axilor Ventures, praised AdvantageClub.ai's vision:  "Companies are in search of good options to improve employee engagement and strengthen their employer brand. AdvantageClub.ai’s personalised, scalable and global platform offers a best-in-class solution to employers who put their employees first. We are excited to continue our partnership with Sourabh and Smiti as they look at their next phase of exciting growth."

The company aims to improve employee well-being, with plans to reach 20 million users in two years, up from 5.5 million today, by enhancing the white-collar employee experience through wellness and AI solutions.