Smartwage has secured €2 million in pre-seed funding to advance its AI-powered corporate welfare platform, targeting inefficiencies in how employee benefits are distributed and used. The round was led by Step Fund, managed by Alternative Capital Partners SGR, with capital deployed in stages aligned to development milestones.
Founded in 2024 by Marco Gambardella, Felice Cupane, and Francesco Varuzza, the company is building an integrated system combining regulated payments and artificial intelligence to automate compliance and optimise benefit usage. Cupane indicated the funding will support platform architecture, security, and AI model enhancement.
Smartwage’s platform allows employees to spend welfare credits freely, addressing the issue of unused budgets caused by rigid provider networks. The system includes an AI assistant designed to personalise and maximise welfare outcomes. Investor Michele Novelli highlighted the scale of the opportunity, noting significant inefficiencies and unmet demand across the market.
Featured image: Credit: Smartwage
