We exist to give the workforce platforms the tools they need to make that happen.
Zeal is an embedded payroll and workforce payments platform purpose-built for staffing companies, labor marketplaces, EOR/PEO organizations, and workforce management tools.
Our platform provides the onboarding, payroll, payments, and billing infrastructure that powers modern workforce platforms. Companies use our API, embeddable components, white-label mobile app, and fully featured admin dashboard to deliver a branded payments experience.
Where traditional payroll systems were built for a single employer paying a fixed set of salaried employees, Zeal is built for the complexity of modern work: W-2 and 1099 workers, multiple pay frequencies, complex wage structures, distributed workforces, and industry-specific compliance requirements.
Zeal handles gross-to-net calculation, multi-jurisdiction tax withholding, payroll filing and reporting, remote I-9 with E-Verify, paycards, digital wallets, instant pay, and so much more. Workforce platforms partner with Zeal so they can focus on building great products instead of rebuilding payroll infrastructure from scratch.
Despite its scale, payroll remains one of the most error-prone functions in business: the IRS estimates that more than 40% of small and medium-sized businesses pay at least one payroll penalty per year. For workforce platforms the problem is compounded. Legacy payroll systems aren't built to handle the shift-based, multi-employer, variable-schedule arrangements that define modern work.
payroll processed annually in the United States
tax jurisdictions
income tax code changes per year
Zeal was founded in 2019 in San Francisco by Kirti Shenoy (CEO) and Pranab Krishnan (CTO). The company began as Puzzl, a gig staffing company. When regulation required Puzzl to reclassify thousands of 1099 contractors as W-2 employees, the founders went looking for infrastructure that could handle high-volume, dynamic payroll and couldn't find one that met their needs.
That experience became the foundation for Zeal: a payroll infrastructure company that gives other platforms the tools they struggled to find. Zeal was accepted into Y Combinator's S19 cohort.
In 2021, Zeal raised a $13 million Series A led by Spark Capital, with participation from Commerce Ventures and individual investors. In 2023, Zeal raised a $15 million series B led by Portage with continued support from Spark and Commerce.
We're not an all-in-one platform that does everything, but not well. We're also not a general purpose tool, that builds for everyone. We focus on building onboard, pay, and bill solutions for workforce platforms.
Zeal is purpose-built for the operational realities of staffing: dynamic schedules, per-diem arrangements, shift-based work, blended W-2 and 1099 workforces, and industry-specific compliance requirements.
Unlike providers that rely on third-party tax infrastructure, Zeal built its own tax engine from the ground up. This means better accuracy, more flexibility, and a single provider that owns the full compliance stack.
Zeal is payroll infrastructure, invisible to workers who interact with the platform's own branded experience. Partners maintain the worker relationship while Zeal handles everything underneath.
When platforms build on Zeal, Zeal takes on full payroll liability as the Power of Attorney and Reporting Agent for all employers. Partners don't inherit the legal and operational risk of running payroll.
Transform payroll from a cost center into a revenue driver. Paycards, digital wallets, and instant pay products allow workforce platforms to generate net new revenue from the payments they're already running.
Trusted by leading workforce platforms
Zeal operates with the compliance standards that enterprise workforce platforms require.
Zeal maintains SOC 2 certification, demonstrating our commitment to data security, availability, and confidentiality.
Active participation in the staffing industry's leading research and analyst organization.
Our team participates in the APA, staying current on payroll law and best practices.
Puzzl Group Inc. (NMLS ID 2277841) holds the appropriate money services business licenses for our payment operations.
Banking services are provided by Bangor Savings Bank, Member FDIC.
Zeal is a financial technology company, not an FDIC insured depository institution. Banking services provided by Bangor Savings Bank, Member FDIC. FDIC insurance coverage protects against the failure of an FDIC insured depository institution. Pass-through FDIC insurance coverage is subject to certain conditions.
Mastercard® Debit Card is issued by Bangor Savings Bank, Member FDIC, pursuant to license by Mastercard International Incorporated. Mastercard is a registered trademark, and the circle design is a trademark of Mastercard International Incorporated. Spend anywhere Mastercard is accepted.
