In a significant move underlining its commitment to employee wealth creation and fostering a culture of ownership, Darwinbox, a leading global provider of AI-powered HR technology, has successfully completed an Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP) buyback worth ₹86 crore (approximately $10 million). This marks the third such buyback program by the SaaS unicorn in just four years, benefiting over 350 employees across its 11 global offices spanning India, North America, Southeast Asia, and the Middle East.

An ESOP buyback allows employees to sell their vested stock options or shares back to the company for cash, providing crucial liquidity and enabling them to realize the financial value of their equity even before a major liquidity event like an IPO or acquisition. For private companies, where direct market selling isn't possible, these buybacks are a vital mechanism for sharing success with the team.

"At Darwinbox, we've always believed that those who help build value should share in it," stated Jayant Paleti, Co-founder of Darwinbox. "Even as we invest deeply in innovation and global growth, we remain equally committed to creating meaningful outcomes for our people. This buyback, like the ones before, reflects our belief in sharing success with our people and building a culture of ownership."

Chaitanya Peddi, another co-founder, added, "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. Some of the best minds from the industry have joined us to help shape the future of work. As we double down on R&D to power an AI-first world, we're excited to welcome great talent on this journey."

This latest buyback follows Darwinbox's impressive $140 million funding round in March 2025, which saw global private equity giants Partners Group and KKR join its cap table. This strategic investment further strengthened Darwinbox's position for deep technology innovation and global market expansion. The company's recent breakthroughs include becoming the first Human Capital Management (HCM) platform globally to launch an MCP (Model Context Protocol) Server, enabling AI agents to securely interact with HR data and workflows. Its Generative AI engine, Darwinbox Sense, now delivers over 40 embedded AI capabilities, driving smarter decisions and elevated experiences for its users.

Founded in 2015, Darwinbox provides cloud-based HR technology solutions that manage the entire employee lifecycle, from recruitment and onboarding to payroll and people analytics. It leverages AI and Machine Learning to offer a comprehensive suite of tools. The company boasts a strong client base of over 1,000 enterprises across 130 countries, serving more than 4 million employees globally. Renowned brands like Starbucks, McDonald's, AXA, Cigna, WeWork, Airtel, and Vedanta trust Darwinbox for their HR needs.

The HR tech unicorn's consistent focus on employee welfare through repeated ESOP buybacks positions it as an attractive employer in the competitive global tech landscape. These initiatives not only incentivize long-term commitment but also demonstrate a tangible return on employees' dedication, reinforcing their stake in the company's flourishing growth story. As Darwinbox continues its global expansion and relentless pursuit of AI-driven innovation, its commitment to its people remains a core tenet of its success.