HR tech platform Darwinbox has completed an Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP) buyback valued at ₹86 crore—its third buyback in the last four years. According to a company statement released on June 24, over 350 employees from its 11 global offices took part in the latest transaction.
The buyback comes amid a growing trend of ESOP liquidity events among growth-stage companies, which are increasingly using such initiatives to attract and retain top talent in a highly competitive job market.
“Even as we invest deeply in innovation and global growth, we remain equally committed to creating meaningful outcomes for our people,” cofounder Jayant Paleti said.
Co-founder Chaitanya Peddi emphasized that the company actively helps employees grow alongside the organization—focusing not only on their impact but also on wealth creation.
Founded in 2015, Darwinbox provides cloud-based human capital management (HCM) software and claims to serve over 4 million employees across 1,000+ enterprises worldwide. Its client roster includes major brands such as Starbucks, McDonald’s, Airtel, AXA, and Vedanta.
Earlier this year, Darwinbox secured $140 million in funding from global private equity firms KKR and Partners Group, joining existing investors such as Microsoft, Salesforce Ventures, and Peak XV. The company earmarked the fresh capital to enhance its technology infrastructure and accelerate global expansion.
In recent months, the company has introduced several AI-powered solutions, including an MCP (Model Context Protocol) Server that enables AI agents to securely access and interact with HR data and workflows.
Darwinbox also launched Darwinbox Sense, a generative AI engine that drives over 40 built-in capabilities. Furthermore, the company expanded its multi-country payroll solution into 10 additional geographies over the past year.
The buyback comes amid a rising wave of ESOP liquidity events among growth-stage startups, as companies increasingly turn to such initiatives to attract and retain talent in a fiercely competitive hiring environment.
According to industry experts, tech startups are expected to ramp up ESOP payouts this year, supported by improving funding conditions, stronger public markets, and an increase in secondary share sales.
