Homegrown HR tech startup Bluworks raised USD 1 mn in a seed funding round, it said in a statement (pdf). The round was led by A15, with participation from Enza Capital, Beltone VC, Acasia Ventures, and strategic angels.

Bluworks? Launched by Hussein Wahdan and Farah Osman in 2022, the platform provides a blue-collar-focused workforce management service that sets itself apart from generic HR solutions that are typically designed for white-collar environments, Wahdan told EnterpriseAM. Its services include multi-location management, shift swapping, labor forecasting, employee scheduling, attendance tracking, payroll processing, real-time salary disbursement, and compliance management tailored to the regulatory requirements in the countries it operates in.

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Where will the money go? The funding will be used to support the startup’s objectives — strengthening its presence in Egypt by growing the SME client base and enhancing platform features, building strategic partnerships to broaden its service offerings, and expanding into new markets across the MENA region.

The company aims to develop its operations in Egypt by introducing advanced analytics and AI-driven features, such as smart shift planning and a smart HR agent, Wahdan told us. It is also considering rolling out integrated financial benefits, ins., and direct wage access to boost worker adoption and retention.

Bluworks sees construction, hospitality, and outsourcing as sectors with growing and — so far — untapped demand. The startup has so far seen the quickest uptake of its services from logistics, retail, F&B, and light manufacturing.

The UAE and Saudi Arabia are the first stops on the company’s expansion plan, given their “large blue-collar labor pools and strong demand for smarter workforce management.” To get ready for the move and make sure that Bluworks is ready for the new legal and regulatory environment, Bluworks is “building localized integrations and partnerships for both markets,” Wahdan said.

What’s next? In the near future, the company will hold a series A funding round after scaling up in Egypt, the UAE, and Saudi Arabia, and achieving certain milestones, Wahdan stated. Looking further ahead, the company aims to evolve into a full operating system for blue-collar workforce management, expanding beyond HR tech into embedded financial services, benefits administration, worker engagement, and recruitment services.

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