About Barley
Barley is a company based in Toronto (Canada) founded in 2021 by Jafar O and William Mainguy was acquired by Workleap in July 2025. It operates as a SaaS (Software-as-a-Service). Barley has raised $4 million across 1 funding round from investors including Golden Ventures, Union Capital Company and Workleap. Barley offers products and services including Barley Compensation Platform, Pay Bands, Compensation Analytics, Total Rewards, and Benchmarking Data. Barley operates in a competitive market with competitors including Gusto, Justworks, Earnin, Paylocity and Payflow, among others.
- Headquarter Toronto, Canada
- Founders Jafar O, William Mainguy
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Sectors
Technology
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Email
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Phone
*********
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Website
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Social
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- Legal Name Barley Inc.
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Annual Revenue
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Net Profit
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EBITDA
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Total Equity Funding
$4 M (USD)
in 1 rounds
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Latest Funding Round
$4 M (USD), Seed
Mar 08, 2023
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Investors
Golden Ventures
& 2 more
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Employee Count
Employee Count
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Acquired by
Workleap
(Jul 07, 2025)
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Products & Services of Barley
Barley offers a comprehensive portfolio of products and services, including Barley Compensation Platform, Pay Bands, Compensation Analytics, Total Rewards, and Benchmarking Data. The company's diverse product and service offerings are designed to meet the evolving needs of its customers, address market demands, and provide comprehensive solutions that drive value creation and customer satisfaction across various segments and use cases.
Compensation management software for HR and rewards teams.
Tool for creating tailored pay structures across roles.
Analytics to identify pay issues and risks proactively.
Portal to visualize and communicate employee total rewards.
Market data integration for informed compensation decisions.
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Funding Insights of Barley
Barley has successfully raised a total of $4M through 1 strategic funding round. The most recent funding activity was a Seed round of $4 million completed in March 2023. This substantial capital infusion reflects strong investor confidence in the company's business model, growth potential, and market opportunities. The funding enables strategic expansion, product development, market penetration, and operational scaling to drive long-term value creation and competitive advantage.
- Total Funding Total Funding
- Total Rounds 1
- Last Round Seed — $4.0M
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First Round
First Round
(08 Mar 2023)
- Investors Count 2
| Date | Amount | Transaction Name | Valuation | Lead Investors | Investors |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mar, 2023 | Amount | Seed - Barley | Valuation | Golden Ventures |
| Date | Amount | Transaction Name | Valuation | Lead Investors | Investors |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jul, 2021 | Amount | Post-IPO - Grab | Valuation |
investors |
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| Feb, 2021 | Amount | Post-IPO - Grab | Valuation |
investors |
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| Jan, 2021 | Amount | Post-IPO - Grab | Valuation |
investors |
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| Feb, 2021 | Amount | Post-IPO - Grab | Valuation |
investors |
Investors in Barley
Barley has secured backing from 3 investors, including venture fund and institutional investors. Prominent investors backing the company include Golden Ventures, Union Capital Company and Workleap. This diverse investor base provides strategic capital, industry expertise, and valuable network connections that support the company's growth initiatives, market expansion, and long-term value creation.
| Investor | Description | Founded Year | Domain | Location |
|---|---|---|---|---|
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Seed-stage investments are directed toward North American startups.
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HR platform providing tools for engagement, feedback, performance, and employee development.
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Founded Year | Domain | Location |
| Investor | Description | Founded Year | Domain | Location |
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Single family office of Amitabh Bachchan, founder of Amitabh Bachchan Corporation or AB CORP
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Founded Year | Domain | Location | |
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Startup ecosystems are ignited through strategic investments by Signite Partners.
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Founded Year | Domain | Location | |
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Venture capital is directed toward companies in multiple sectors.
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Founded Year | Domain | Location | |
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Venture capital is invested in cybersecurity, fintech, and AI startups.
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Founded Year | Domain | Location |
Investments & Acquisitions by Barley
| Company Name | Description | Domain | Location | Founded Year | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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Bionic investment advisor platform
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2016 | ||||
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Fine Asian gourmet food is offered by an internet-first restaurant.
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2016 | ||||
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Physical e-commerce kiosks are deployed for rural purchases in Indonesia.
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2014 | ||||
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Fine Asian gourmet food is offered by an internet-first restaurant.
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2016 |
Financial Statements - Barley
| Date | Amount | Transaction Name | Valuation | Lead Investors | Investors |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jul, 2021 | Amount | Post-IPO - Grab | Valuation |
investors |
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| Feb, 2021 | Amount | Post-IPO - Grab | Valuation |
investors |
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| Jan, 2021 | Amount | Post-IPO - Grab | Valuation |
investors |
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| Feb, 2021 | Amount | Post-IPO - Grab | Valuation |
investors |
Barley Comparisons
Competitors of Barley
Barley operates in a dynamic and competitive business environment, facing competition from various established players and emerging companies in the market. The competitive landscape includes prominent companies such as Gusto, Justworks, Earnin, Paylocity and Payflow, among others. This competitive environment drives innovation, market differentiation, and strategic positioning as companies strive to capture market share and deliver value to their customers. Understanding the competitive dynamics is crucial for assessing market positioning, identifying growth opportunities, and navigating the challenges inherent in a competitive marketplace.
| Company Name | Domain | Founded year | HQ Location | Description |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| domain | founded_year | HQ Location |
Cloud-based HR and payroll solutions are offered for small businesses.
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| domain | founded_year | HQ Location |
Benefits administration and payroll management are provided for businesses.
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| domain | founded_year | HQ Location |
Real-time access to earned wages is provided fee-free.
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| domain | founded_year | HQ Location |
Cloud-based payroll and HR solutions are provided for businesses.
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| domain | founded_year | HQ Location |
Payflow is recognized as a financial wellness application for employees.
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| domain | founded_year | HQ Location |
Cloud-based HR and payroll management solutions are offered.
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| Company Name | Domain | Founded year | HQ Location | Description |
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| domain | founded_year | HQ Location |
Multiple services are booked via an app-based platform.
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| domain | founded_year | HQ Location |
On-demand services are booked through an app-based platform.
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| domain | founded_year | HQ Location |
App based platform offering on demand delivery and ride-hailing services
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| domain | founded_year | HQ Location |
Operates an on-demand hyperlocal delivery app for food and groceries.
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Latest news on Barley
Frequently Asked Questions about Barley
When was Barley founded?
Barley was founded in 2021 and raised its 1st funding round 2 years after it was founded.
Where is Barley located?
Barley is headquartered in Toronto, Canada. It is registered at Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
Is Barley a funded company?
Barley is a funded company, having raised a total of $4M across 1 funding round to date. The company's 1st funding round was a Seed of $4M, raised on Mar 08, 2023.
What does Barley do?
Barley is established as a provider of compensation management software tailored for HR and Total Rewards teams. Solutions are offered to streamline pay structures, compensation reviews, and analytics across organizations. Integration with HRIS platforms is supported to enhance data synchronization. Focus is placed on pay equity, transparency, and benchmarking using market data. Services are designed to reduce manual processes, mitigate risks, and control spending for businesses of varying sizes.
What products or services does Barley offer?
Barley offers Barley Compensation Platform, Pay Bands, Compensation Analytics, Total Rewards, and Benchmarking Data.
Who are Barley's investors?
Barley has 3 investors. Key investors include Golden Ventures, Union Capital Company, and Workleap.
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