The Gusto Mafia

khanak

Published

October 10, 2024

Gusto was founded in 2011 by Josh Reeves, Tomer London, and Edward Kim with a mission to simplify payroll, benefits, and HR services for small businesses. Reeves, a Stanford graduate, was driven by a desire to build meaningful companies that addressed real-world challenges, particularly the complexities small business owners face in managing employee services.

Since its launch, Gusto has grown rapidly and now serves over 200,000 businesses across the U.S. The platform offers a comprehensive suite of services, including payroll, employee benefits, time tracking, and compliance tools, designed to streamline business operations. Its intuitive design and user-friendly approach have made it a favorite among small business owners.

Gusto has also embraced technology like automation and data analytics to enhance its offerings and provide a seamless experience for users. Today, it remains a key player in the HR and payroll industry, empowering small businesses to manage their workforce effectively and foster better workplaces.

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Josh Reeves, Edward Kim, Tomer London, ZenPayroll, sv100 2015 — Josh Reeves, Tomer London and Edward Kim

The Gusto Mafia

The Gusto Mafia has founded 34 companies and raised $422M.

PS: Are you a Gusto Tech Mafia member interested in bringing your community together to invest in innovative ventures (and enjoy potential profits and other perks along the way)? Or perhaps you're part of another dynamic group that could be a fantastic source of startup investments?

😉 Then sign up to our waitlist

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List of all the amazing companies covered

CaptivateIQ
UnitX
Sirona Medical
Mutiny
Decent
Aura Bora
Auquan
Primo
Fero
Niva
The Mintable
Scholarly Software
Ourspace
Kept
StretchDollar
Trez
Risotto
Mercoa
Laetro
Sonix

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CaptivateIQ

Founder: Conway Teng

Gusto Role: Finance & Business Operations

Capital Raised: $164.6M

Investors: Sequoia Capital

Stage: Series C

CaptivateIQ develops a sales compensation platform designed to help businesses leverage the power of incentives to motivate teams.

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UnitX

Founder: Weixiong (Max) Zheng

Gusto Role: Software Engineering

Capital Raised: $58M

Investors: SE Ventures

Stage: Venture - Series Unknown

UnitX provides an inspection solution based on deep learning for automated manufacturing. The company specializes in deep learning, robotics, imaging systems, and precision engineering.

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Sirona Medical

Founder: Ankit Goyal

Gusto Role: Software Engineering Intern & KPCB Engineering Fellow

Capital Raised: $62.5M

Investors: Global Founders Capital

Stage: Series B

Sirona Medical has created a novel cloud-based radiology operating system that unifies existing applications and simplifies workflow.

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Mutiny

Founder: Jaleh Rezaei, Nikhil Mathew

Gusto Role: Head of Marketing & BD, Software Engineering Manager, Tech Lead

Capital Raised: $71.6M

Investors: Sequoia Capital

Stage: Series B

Mutiny helps B2B companies generate pipeline and revenue from their target accounts through AI-powered personalized web experiences.

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Decent

Founder: Nick Soman

Gusto Role: Growth Product Lead

Capital Raised: $19M

Investors: Menlo Ventures

Stage: Series A

Decent offers affordable healthcare by aligning incentives to improve health, reduce costs, and put members at the center of their care.

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Aura Bora

Founder: Paul Voge, Madeleine Voge

Gusto Role: Business Development, Copywriter

Capital Raised: $12M

Investors: Siddhi Capital

Stage: Series A

Aura Bora is a maker of craft sparkling water that features herbs, fruits, and flowers.

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Auquan

Founder: Shub Jain

Gusto Role: Full Stack Engineer

Capital Raised: $4.7M

Investors: Neotribe Ventures

Stage: Seed

Auquan’s Intelligence Engine uses RAG AI to uncover early, financially material insights. It streamlines company due diligence, KYC, ESG research, and risk monitoring, allowing users to focus on high-level analysis and strategic decision-making.

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Primo

Founder: Martin Pannier

Gusto Role: Group Product Manager

Capital Raised: $3.4M

Investors: Global Founders Capital

Stage: Seed

Primo is the first all-in-one IT platform for modern companies. They help SMBs manage their people, devices, applications and security in a single and unique IT-as-a-service platform that scales with them.

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Fero

Founder: Arif I.

Gusto Role: Software Engineer

Capital Raised: $3.2M

Investors: Antler

Stage: Seed

Fero uses predictive AI to customize the payment process and pathway uniquely for every individual customer.

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Niva

Founder: Akhil Naini

Gusto Role: Software Engineering

Capital Raised: $3.3M

Investors: Gradient Ventures

Stage: Pre-Seed

Niva is a global business identity platform used to build trust in businesses across the globe.

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The Mintable

Founder: Melissa Miller, Lauren (Fifield) Humphrey

Gusto Role: SVP of Operations, Insurance

Capital Raised: $6.2M

Investors: Global Founders Capital

Stage: Seed

The Mintable is a community-based learning and growth platform for managers.

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Scholarly Software

Founder: Kelly Sutton

Gusto Role: Software Engineering

Capital Raised: $5M

Investors: —

Stage: Seed

Scholarly is building the next generation of faculty affairs software with today's most innovative tools.

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Ourspace

Founder: Stephanie Bowker

Gusto Role: PMM & Brand Lead

Capital Raised: $2.5M

Investors: Connect Ventures

Stage: Pre-Seed

Ourspace is the collaborative team design software that equips leaders to make smarter org design decisions.

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Kept

Founder: Topher Reynoso

Gusto Role: Health & Insurance Product Innovation

Capital Raised: $2.1M

Investors: Treasury

Stage: Seed

Kept, Inc. anticipates the needs of employees as they leave, offering more than just COBRA administration. With top-tier legal and brokerage support, Kept goes beyond standard services, ensuring employees feel supported during a disruptive period in their lives.

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StretchDollar

Founder: Marshall Darr, Kaiza Molina

Gusto Role: Head of Lifecycle Marketing, Customer Marketing

Capital Raised: $1.6M

Investors: Westerly Ventures

Stage: Pre-Seed

StretchDollar is an insurance company offering health benefits for small businesses.

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Trez

Founder: Arthur Garcia

Gusto Role: Ambassador

Capital Raised: $1.5M

Investors: Techstars

Stage: Pre-Seed

Trez is a company focused on payroll, benefits, and financial services, designed to empower small businesses. By combining financial solutions with a strong cultural connection, it helps businesses thrive while addressing their unique needs.

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