Deel: Enabling Global Talent Access

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Both of us, Shuo and I, were Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) grads who wanted to start a company and build the best global team with the best global talent. We knew that talent was everywhere and that our company would benefit by having an open, diverse, and global team — yet when we tried to make this reality happen, we were stymied by all the obstacles put up to hiring, collaborating, and team-building across borders. So we switched gears and teamed up to build a platform that seamlessly connects talent to global opportunity. We wanted to help people work for the best companies in the world regardless of location.

Deel’s origins are deeply ingrained with the idea of providing the tools and know-how to create and offer opportunity to a dispersed workforce. As founders, we saw first-hand the inequities of certain workforce markets, with some peers graduating with salaries of $250,000 or more in the Bay Area and others earning just $30,000 in their home countries.
 

We realized how technology—and an emphasis on localization, with on-the-ground partners ensuring compliance with everything from domestic laws and tax systems to payroll and equity offerings—can break down these imbalances.

Deel is registered in San Francisco, but we do not have a specific physical office. The 2,500 Deel team is 100% remote and collaborates as a distributed workforce across 85+ countries. Our team members have the flexibility to work from WeWork (rented co-working facility) or other suitable locations as needed. We prioritize a flexible work environment that allows our employees to work from wherever they feel most productive.

Our four main products are:

The rise of remote work has become more prevalent, with companies embracing flexible work arrangements. This shift presents new challenges in terms of managing global teams, complying with international labor laws, and handling payments for remote workers.

We have effectively recognized and addressed these challenges. By providing a comprehensive platform, Deel enables companies to hire, onboard, and manage remote workers seamlessly. Their services include streamlined global payments, localized contracts that comply with local regulations, and access to experts who can navigate complex international employment laws. Deel's dedication to simplifying the process of hiring and managing remote teams aligns perfectly with the growing demand for flexible work arrangements.

Another trend in HR is the increasing need for efficient and automated processes. Traditional HR tasks, such as payroll management, contract generation, and compliance tracking, are time-consuming and prone to errors. This is where Deel steps in with its cutting-edge technology solutions. We automate these processes, reducing administrative burdens and ensuring accuracy.

Employee well-being and engagement have become paramount in today's HR landscape. Companies are prioritizing the holistic well-being of their workforce and actively seeking ways to boost employee engagement, satisfaction, and productivity. Deel contributes to this trend by providing a seamless and transparent experience for both employers and employees. By simplifying HR processes, ensuring timely and accurate payments, and fostering compliance, Deel helps create a positive and supportive work environment that nurtures employee well-being and engagement.

The Deel Virtual Card is a highly popular feature with people using the Deel platform, as it seamlessly connects with the Deel app. The card enables people to make global purchases using funds stored in the app. The card's primary advantage is its ability to safeguard funds in the preferred currency, mainly the U.S. dollar, protecting users from exchange rate fluctuations and ensuring consistent value until utilized.

Additionally, we provide tax calculators that assist independent contractors in India with accurately determining their tax obligations and promoting their financial well-being.

We also launched the Deel community platform this February, which aims to provide communication, collaboration, and community to independent contractors globally. India has the third-highest number of independent contractors using the Deel platform and the second-highest for APAC. Our goal is to supplement the support structure that we already have in Deel by tapping into individual thought leaders in these countries who can provide those resources to their fellow independent contractors.

We recently held our first community meet-up in India in Bangalore. This event brought together people in the Deel community to share knowledge and enjoy networking together.

I would like to share how we saved 300-plus hours every month for Change.org. Change.org is the world’s largest tech platform driving people-powered social change. More than half a billion people across 196 countries use their technology-driven petition and campaign tools to spark change, speak up about issues, and advocate the change they want to see.

Distributed across more than 25+ countries worldwide, Change.org has had to work with countless payroll vendors and multiple processes and used numerous platforms. The operational complexity was enormous and time-consuming each month.

Change.org initially worked with a legacy payroll provider but encountered several hurdles. Challenged by the lack of automation, running payroll became prone to errors that required extra time and attention to avoid. Along with frustrating slow support and a clunky user experience, the team found themselves in the market for a smarter, more effective solution.

On the hunt for a platform with better support and usability, Change.org found Deel. Director of People Operations at Change.org, Allie Shulman, said that having access to immediate help was one of the main reasons they moved their business to Deel. Shulman later said that another of the main draws for Change.org’s migration to Deel was that the Deel platform is “more advanced and user-friendly.”

Our vision is that the best companies in the world can more easily hire and pay Indian talent and that India-based businesses can tap into a more global talent pool. We are working with our partners to make this dream a reality for millions of people.

At the individual level, more often than not, people have to physically move to access great job opportunities - like engineers in Cairo or Bangalore having to move to Silicon Valley for work. But that is changing, now those people can stay home, wherever in the world that may be. Partly accelerated by the pandemic but also by new online tools, it is becoming more acceptable and more possible for people to work from anywhere. The global workforce is becoming a reality.

We want to enable broad-based growth, including outside national capitals - spreading the wealth and social impact throughout the country, not just concentrating it. More people stay in the country and pay local taxes. We also want to help prevent brain drain and stimulate local hubs of professional activity, such as Bangalore.