cFIRST
cFIRST is a Bengaluru-based, globally operating background screening company that delivers AI-powered identity, criminal, employment, and education verification across 185+ countries for over 2,000 enterprise clients spanning technology, financial services, healthcare, manufacturing, staffing, and consumer goods.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2009
- HeadquartersBengaluru, India
- Headcount251–500
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What cFIRST does
cFIRST is a Bengaluru-headquartered background screening company operating globally as cFIRST Background Check LLP, with delivery presence in India, the United States, and the United Kingdom. The company processes more than 5 million background checks annually across 185+ countries for over 2,000 enterprise clients spanning technology (Capgemini, Kyndryl, Amdocs, Mphasis), financial services (Capital One, Nedbank), healthcare (Apollo Hospitals), manufacturing (Michelin, UD Trucks), staffing (Adecco, Collabera), consumer goods (Reckitt), and education (upgrad). Its service mix bundles verification, identity screening, criminal screening, and drug and alcohol screening as core offerings, with add-on modules including global searches, FCA checks, DBS checks, directorship checks, adverse media searches, credit screening, Right to Work checks, sanctions checks, MVR screening, instant checks, and continuous monitoring.
The platform is built on an AI-powered screening engine with human-in-the-loop verification — combining OCR and computer vision for document tampering detection, facial recognition and liveness/deepfake checks, NLP-driven consent and language verification, anomaly detection on verification data, and predictive risk scoring — exposed through a Client Portal, Candidate Portal, and BackgroundCheckAPIs that integrate with HRMS/ATS platforms. Coverage is anchored by direct integrations with Indian government and private databases (Income Tax Department, eCourts, EPFO, Aadhaar, PAN, passport, voter ID) and a global verification network of employers, HR departments, and payroll partners. Compliance posture is reinforced by ISO 27001:2013, PBSA, NABPS, NASSCOM, NSR, IAF, ACBCB, and Quest International certifications, with stated adherence to FCRA, GDPR, LGPD, PDPA, DPDPA, and jurisdiction-specific employment laws; 97% of checks are reported delivered within 24 hours and 98% candidate NPS is claimed.
Commercially, cFIRST operates a subscription-based, multi-year contract model with modular role-, region-, and risk-tiered packages, monetizing both directly to enterprise clients via field sales and indirectly through a partner marketplace of HR and talent acquisition platforms (HROne, Kredily, Keka, Multiplier, Leena AI, Curatal, Zepul, BinaryStar, CodersBrain and others). Revenue figures, funding history, and ownership structure beyond founder/operator control are not publicly disclosed.
cFIRST firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- cFIRST
- Legal name
- cFIRST Background Check LLP
- Website
- https://cfirst.io
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2009
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 251–500 employees
- Short description
- cFIRST is a Bengaluru-based, globally operating background screening company that delivers AI-powered identity, criminal, employment, and education verification across 185+ countries for over 2,000 enterprise clients spanning technology, financial services, healthcare, manufacturing, staffing, and consumer goods.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
cFIRST industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Background Screening Services
- NAICS
- Investigation and Personal Background Check Services (561611)
- SIC
- Services-Detective, Guard & Armored Car Services (7381), Services-Testing Laboratories (8734)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Pre-Employment Background Checks & Screening (BPAKAEAA)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Continuous Monitoring & Post-Hire Screening (BPACALAJ), Credit History Checks (Permissible Purpose) (BPACALAF), AML/CFT & Financial Crime Compliance (FSAFAOAD)
Keywords
Where cFIRST is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Bengaluru
- HQ country
- India
- HQ region
- Asia
Offices3 records
Markets served
cFIRST business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Background Screening Services: cFIRST provides comprehensive background screening services including verification, identity screening, criminal screening, drug and alcohol screening, continuous monitoring, and instant checks. Revenue is generated through per-check fees based on the type and number of screening services ordered by enterprise clients.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Multi-year contract | Custom modular packages by role, region, and risk level |
| Subscription | Multi-year contract | High-risk finance hires requiring credit checks |
| Subscription | Multi-year contract | Healthcare roles requiring FACIS screening |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels6 records
cFIRST product offering
Product offeringCore offering
cFIRST is a technology-driven background screening company providing comprehensive pre-employment verification services including education, employment, reference, identity, criminal, drug and alcohol, credit, and global compliance checks. The platform combines AI-powered automation with human-in-the-loop verification, delivered via Client Portal, Candidate Portal, and BackgroundCheckAPIs, covering 185+ countries for enterprise HR and talent acquisition teams.
Product overview
cFIRST is a technology-driven digital and global background screening platform offering comprehensive pre-employment verification services. The core offering consists of Verification Services, Identity Screening, Criminal Screening, and Drug and Alcohol Screening, supported by AI-powered automation and advanced analytics. The platform operates through a modular architecture including Client Portal and Candidate Portal platforms, with BackgroundCheckAPIs for programmatic access. Additional specialized add-on modules include Instant Checks, Continuous Monitoring, Global Searches (185+ countries), Financial Conduct Authority Screening, Directorship Checks, Adverse Media Screening, Credit Screening, Right To Work Checks, DBS Checks, Sanctions Checks, and Driver/MVR Screening. The system combines AI-driven tools with human expertise to deliver 97% of checks within 24 hours, processing over 5 million background checks annually across industries including Staffing, Technology, Banking, Healthcare, Manufacturing, Retail, and Hospitality.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Verification Services Comprehensive education, employment, reference, and background verification services leveraging a global network of employers, HR departments, and payroll partners for accurate confirmation of roles, tenure, and responsibilities. Designed for enterprise HR and talent acquisition teams.
- Identity Screening AI-driven identity verification combining biometric checks, document validation, facial recognition, and OCR-based tamper detection to confirm candidate personal information. For enterprise employers needing fast, secure identity verification.
- Criminal Screening Real-time criminal record searches drawing from local court records, national criminal registries, sex offender lists, and global watchlists to support risk-free hiring decisions for enterprise clients.
- Continuous Monitoring Automated recurring background checks to maintain ongoing compliance with regulatory requirements and safeguard the work environment throughout the employee lifecycle.
- Drug and Alcohol Screening Pre-employment drug and health screening programs tailored to industry-specific requirements, including access to UK-wide testing network with efficient reporting. Designed for employers in safety-sensitive roles.
- Instant Checks API-driven instant background checks for PAN, Driving License, and other documents in India that compress verification timelines from weeks to hours.
- Global Searches Scalable international background checks across 185+ countries through a one-stop platform with country-specific compliance and regulatory handling.
- Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) Screening Tailored FCA screening checks for UK financial regulatory compliance, providing confidence for financial services firms in hiring.
- Directorship Checks Global and customizable director verifications providing comprehensive view of candidates' board history for executive appointment decisions.
- Adverse Media Screening Tailored and affordable global news searches to uncover negative media references that could impact company reputation.
- Credit Screening Pre-employment credit checks and financial health screenings using industry-leading tools and expert specialists for sensitive financial roles.
- Right To Work Checks Certified digital checks and audit trails for UK compliance, delivering fast and accurate work authorization verification.
- Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) Checks Quick and efficient DBS checks for confident hiring decisions in the UK with compliance assurance.
- Sanctions Checks
Quantifiable outcome
- 97% of checks delivered within 24 hours
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use cFIRST
Customer profileNamed customers17 records
Segments8 records
Ideal customer profiles5 records
cFIRST technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- Yes
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration15 records
AI capability12 records
Feature6 records
cFIRST partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
14 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- KredilycoreAI-powered HR and payroll platform built for modern Indian businesses. Trusted by 25,000+ companies and powering payroll for over 10 lakh employees. Combines intelligent automation with practical HR tools for payroll, attendance, leave, and statutory compliance.
- Leon & Walker Talent Partners LLPcoreBuilding high-performing sales teams for IT Services and Technology companies with over two decades of industry experience in tech sales dynamics and talent landscapes.
- HROnecoreRecognized by G2 as easiest HR software among 1.17 lakh solutions. 1500+ leaders rely on HROne to simplify payroll, attendance, employee lifecycle, recruitment, engagement.
- MultipliercoreAll-in-one platform for onboarding, paying, and managing global workforce across 150+ countries compliantly. Provides EOR, payroll, and immigration services.
- Leena AIcoreGen AI autonomous agent works as integrated SuperApp and federated search layer on top of enterprise applications including ERP, CRM, ITSM, HRIS, KMS & CMS.
- CodersBrainminorSpecializes in providing exceptional, highly skilled IT professionals including bench resources for on-site or remote roles.
- KekacoreUnified platform for HR tasks like attendance, leave, performance, and payroll. Automates people processes and helps build motivated workplace culture.
- Mantle Training and ConsultingminorTransforming professionals towards self-sufficiency through training with framework ensuring proper knowledge enhancement and sustainable training solutions.
- SourcePROminorIndia's First TA Certification Program founded by Yusuf Pathan. Trained over 30,000 TA professionals in the past decade to enhance hiring quality.
- Global HR Community (GHRC)minorDynamic network of HR professionals, people managers, and industry experts dedicated to fostering collaboration, knowledge sharing, and innovation in human resources.
- BinaryStar SearchXminorServing clients and candidates for recruitment and staffing solutions in analytics, banking, pharma, finance, IT, and HR from middle-level to CXO-level hiring.
- TalentPad IndiaminorRecruitment consultancy dealing with hiring for leadership and niche requirements across cleaning, pharmaceuticals, chemicals, oil & gas, and manufacturing industries.
- Shelby Global ConsultingminorEstablished in 2012, headquartered in Bangalore with global office in Vietnam. Providing innovative human resource consulting services for international and Indian talent.
- HumaneticsminorBlending human potential with cutting edge digital solutions to redefine HR excellence. Strategic HR solutions enhancing workforce efficiency, compliance, and employee engagement.
Scale indicators7 records
Recent moves5 records
Expansion highlights5 records
cFIRST competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Checkr: AI-native background screening platform serving enterprises and gig economy platforms in the US. Closest comparable peer to cFIRST on technology stack and product offering; significantly larger and better capitalized, providing direct competitive overlap in enterprise screening.
- HireRight: One of the largest global background screening providers with deep enterprise footprint across 200+ countries. Direct competitor to cFIRST in enterprise screening, particularly in UK and US markets, with overlapping product portfolio including criminal, identity, and employment verification.
- Accurate Background: US-headquartered background screening provider focused on enterprise and mid-market clients. Direct competitor to cFIRST with similar product breadth including criminal, employment, and identity verification services.
- Sterling: Global background screening and identity verification company serving enterprise and government clients. Highly comparable to cFIRST on enterprise focus, global reach, and regulated-vertical expertise (financial services, healthcare).
Regional players
- AuthBridge: India-based background screening and identity verification company serving enterprise and gig economy clients. Highly comparable to cFIRST on geographic focus and product mix in the Indian market; represents closest domestic peer.
- SpringVerify: India-based background verification platform serving SMBs and enterprises with API-driven screening. Comparable to cFIRST on regional India focus, technology stack, and SMB-to-enterprise segment coverage.
Emerging players
- Certn: AI-powered background screening platform with strong product-market fit in North America and UK. Comparable to cFIRST on technology-led approach and global screening ambition, particularly in identity and criminal checks.
- Veremark: Tech-forward global background screening company focused on API-first delivery and continuous screening. Comparable to cFIRST on technology-led GTM and global coverage ambition, but at earlier stage and smaller scale.
- Zinc (Zinc Work): Automated reference checking and background screening platform targeting enterprise and staffing customers. Comparable to cFIRST on API-first architecture and staffing-vertical focus, but with narrower product scope.
Broad incumbents
- First Advantage: Large publicly-listed background screening provider with comprehensive product suite spanning screening, verification, and compliance. Comparable to cFIRST across core services but at significantly greater scale and broader portfolio reach.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
cFIRST social profiles
Digital presencecFIRST compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance6 records
cFIRST financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
cFIRST leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles2 records
cFIRST funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
cFIRST M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about cFIRST
What does cFIRST do?
cFIRST is a technology-driven background screening company providing comprehensive pre-employment verification services including education, employment, reference, identity, criminal, drug and alcohol, credit, and global compliance checks. The platform combines AI-powered automation with human-in-the-loop verification, delivered via Client Portal, Candidate Portal, and BackgroundCheckAPIs, covering 185+ countries for enterprise HR and talent acquisition teams.
Is cFIRST a public or private company?
cFIRST is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was cFIRST founded?
cFIRST was founded in 2009. It employs 251 to 500 people.
Where is cFIRST based?
cFIRST is headquartered in Bengaluru, India, in the Asia region.
How does cFIRST make money?
One revenue line is on record: background Screening Services.
Who are cFIRST's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Checkr, HireRight, Accurate Background and Sterling. Regional players are AuthBridge and SpringVerify. Emerging players are Certn, Veremark and Zinc (Zinc Work). First Advantage is listed as a broad incumbent.
Does cFIRST have an API?
Yes. cFIRST offers API integration with HR software for seamless background check workflows. The API enables automated verification processes including identity, employment, education, and criminal background checks. The BackgroundCheckAPIs platform is described as providing instant and reliable background checks for education, reference, and employment verification. Developer documentation is at cfirst.io.
What industry is cFIRST in?
cFIRST's product category is Background Screening Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAKAEAA, Pre-Employment Background Checks & Screening, with a secondary code of BPACALAJ, Continuous Monitoring & Post-Hire Screening. Its NAICS code is 561611 and its SIC code is 7381.