Manchester-based HRtech startup Orka raises £3m to accelerate growth

Manchester-based Orka Technology Group (Orka), announced it has secured £3 million Series A fundraising round from Praetura Ventures.

More than 60,000 people already use Orka’s products. Over the last four years, it has become the go-to tech solution for shift workers, and it currently works with over half of the UK’s top 30 security companies, including leading names such as G4S, ISS and Wilson James.

Tom Pickersgill, CEO, Orka: “This investment will support us in building the infrastructure for hourly-paid workforces and an operating system that will give our users the ideal journey based on their needs. Shift workers, who make up 85 per cent of the global workforce, are becoming even more flexible and keener to adopt technology that can support their needs. They are now looking for work that fits around their life without having to navigate the often-complex job hunting process. We are thrilled that Praetura Ventures has bought into our vision and will support us in building the infrastructure for hourly-paid workforces and an operating system that will give our users the ideal journey based on their needs.”

With backing from Praetura, Orka plans to accelerate product development, grow our API integration programme and target growth in new markets, including the mechanical and electrical sectors. We also plan to build out our data science and machine learning ambitions to automate as many of the tasks carried out by workers and employers as possible to enable faster and more frictionless processes on both sides.

David Foreman, Managing Director, Praetura Ventures: “Our mission has long been to support brilliant Northern businesses with exceptional founders. Orka ticks both boxes, and we’re looking forward to working closely with the team as they continue to address many of the pain points that exist within the shift work and labour space, including a lack of transparency when putting candidates forward for roles.”

www.orka.group
www.praeturaventures.com