Page 24 - DARWINBOX PR REPORT MARCH 2025

3/6/25, 9:24 AM Darwinbox raises $140mln investment Co-led by partners group and KKR to accelerate global expansion – Bizpreneur Middle East
the employee experience front and center — and ensuring our platform is deeply configurable to
diverse local needs — we have helped transform HR for enterprises globally. With top-tier investors
backing us, we’re poised to amplify our global momentum and deliver innovative AI‐powered
solutions for thousands of enterprises worldwide.”
Cyrus Driver, Managing Director, Private Equity, Partners Group, comments, “Darwinbox
operates in the rapidly growing HR tech market, which we have been tracking through our thematic
research. The company is acting as a key disruptor to legacy platforms in this space, investing
heavily in product innovation, generative AI, and global expansion, and is well positioned to take
market share. We look forward to working with Darwinbox’s talented management team on driving
future growth. The company represents another exciting addition to our private equity growth
portfolio.”
Akshay Tanna, Partner and Head of India Private Equity, KKR, said, “Darwinbox has established
itself as a leading player in the human capital management space in a short span of time through its
focus on innovation and customer centricity. We are pleased to support Darwinbox on its next stage
of growth and will look to draw from our global network and expertise to accelerate its international
expansion ambitions.”
Globally, over 3 million employees from leading brands — including Starbucks, Nivea, AXA, Cigna,
WeWork, Crisil (an S&P company), T-Systems, and more — rely on Darwinbox’s platform for modern
HR management. Darwinbox’s recent wave of product rollouts — highlighted by a multi-country
payroll solution and enhanced GenAI features — demonstrates its commitment to next-generation
HR innovation.
Partners Group invested through its growth equity strategy, which applies a thematic approach to
identify investment opportunities in growth-stage companies globally. Partners Group made its first
growth investment in 2013 and has deployed around USD 2.5 billion in the space to-date. The firm’s
recent growth investments include Lumin Digital, a leading cloud-native digital banking provider,
and Neara, one of the first AI-powered predictive modeling software platforms for critical
infrastructure.
KKR makes its investment from its Asia Next Generation Technology strategy, which seeks to
support the growth of innovative, disruptive companies in Asia across consumer technology,
software, and FinTech. This marks KKR’s latest growth equity investment in India and the region,
including Rebel Foods, an internet restaurant company in India; Lenskart, an omni-channel eyewear
retailer; Livspace, an omni-channel home interior and renovation platform; KiotViet, a SaaS platform
for SMBs in Vietnam; and Privy, a digital trust provider in Indonesia.
Avendus Capital acted as the financial advisor and investment banker on this transaction.
About Darwinbox

Founded in 2015, Darwinbox is a global HR tech leader that empowers enterprises to better manage
their talent with new-age employee experiences and disruptive AI-powered technology. Its cloud-
based Human Capital Management (HCM) software caters to an organisation’s HR needs across
the entire employee lifecycle. Darwinbox is trusted by over 3 million employees from more than 1000
enterprises across 130 countries. Darwinbox has been backed by global investors like TCV,
Microsoft, Salesforce Ventures, Peak XV, Lightspeed and Endiya Partners among others.
About Partners Group
Partners Group is one of the largest firms in the global private markets industry, with around 1’800
professionals and over USD 150 billion in assets under management. The firm has investment
programs and custom mandates spanning private equity, private credit, infrastructure, real estate,
and royalties. With its heritage in Switzerland and primary presence in the Americas in Colorado,
Partners Group is built differently from the rest of the industry. The firm leverages its differentiated
culture and its operationally oriented approach to identify attractive investment themes and to build
businesses and assets into market leaders.
About KKR
KKR is a leading global investment firm that offers alternative asset management as well as capital
markets and insurance solutions. KKR aims to generate attractive investment returns by following a
patient and disciplined investment approach, employing world-class people, and supporting growth
in its portfolio companies and communities. KKR sponsors investment funds that invest in private
equity, credit and real assets and has strategic partners that manage hedge funds. KKR’s insurance
subsidiaries offer retirement, life and reinsurance products under the management of Global Atlantic
Financial Group. References to KKR’s investments may include the activities of its sponsored funds
and insurance subsidiaries.
About Gravity Holdings
Gravity Holdings is a technology growth equity firm. Gravity invests in technology businesses whose
persistent competitive advantages support unusually high growth and cash generation over the long
term. Gravity leverages its global network to unlock bespoke growth opportunities for the firm’s small
handful of partnerships.
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