KUNO

What KUNO does

KUNO GmbH is a Berlin-based professional services firm that operates as an outsourced HR and payroll department for European companies, primarily in the DACH region. The company delivers three integrated service lines: HR Services (contract drafting, onboarding/offboarding, visa processing, HR system management, employee inquiries), Payroll Services (monthly Lohnbuchhaltung under GDPR-compliant workflows with DATEV or Agenda), and Consulting & Projects (HR system implementation, navigation of German bureaucracy for international entrants, and tailored workshops). Engagements run as permanent outsourcing, interim coverage, or fixed-scope projects, primarily targeting startups, scale-ups, SMEs, and foreign companies establishing operations in Germany.

The firm does not build proprietary HR software; instead it orchestrates a curated stack of 40+ third-party tools (Personio, DATEV, Agenda, BOB, Vyble, Leapsome, Clockodo, Rydoo, Easybill, plus Microsoft and Adobe for infrastructure) to deliver managed services. Differentiation rests on practitioner expertise — a ~20-person team with 75+ combined years of HR/payroll experience drawn from employers such as Apple, AUTO1, Rocket Internet, Manpower, and DIS AG — backed by an ecosystem of 30+ technology and service partners. Operations are 99% digital and remote, supporting flexible engagement models with monthly billing at fixed price or time-and-materials terms, with AGB-permitted annual price adjustments of up to 5%.

KUNO is a privately held German GmbH founded in 2019 (per company source) / 2020 (per firmographic entry) and registered in Berlin Charlottenburg (HRB 224375 B). It is led by Managing Director Erica Ancobia and counts Carcharodon (carcap.vc) and Baloise Group among its shareholders. Named clients span Amnesty International Germany, GetYour Guide, NZZ, Rebuy, Taxfix, and Tierarzt Plus Partner, with the company stating it serves 100+ clients in aggregate. GTM is sales-led direct B2B supported by content marketing (blog, newsletter, LinkedIn), webinars, HR Collective Marktplatz marketplace listing, and event sponsorship; no self-serve or e-commerce channels are operated.

Name

KUNO

Legal name

KUNO GmbH

Website

https://kuno.io

Company type

Private

Founded year

2019

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

KUNO GmbH is a Berlin-based outsourced HR and payroll services firm serving 100+ startups, scale-ups, SMEs, and international companies across the DACH region, offering HR administration, monthly payroll, and German-bureaucracy consulting via 40+ partner tools.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

HR & Payroll Outsourcing Services

NAICS

Payroll Services (541214), Professional Employer Organizations (561330), Professional Employer Organizations (56133)

SIC

Services-Business Services, Nec (7389)

akta.pro primary industry

Payroll Outsourcing & Pay Administration (Multi-country/Managed Payroll) (BPACAKAD)

akta.pro secondary industries

Personnel Records, Document Management & Compliance (BPAAAIAD), HR Compliance & Policy Administration Outsourcing (incl. regulatory reporting) (BPACAKAK), Global Payroll & Multi-Country Payroll Coordination (EOR/PEO Interface) (BPAAAHAE)

Keywords

• HR outsourcing services
• Payroll processing
• HR consulting
• Workforce administration
• HR compliance

Headquarters

HQ city

Berlin

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. HR Services: Comprehensive HR services including contract creation, on/offboarding, visa processing, HR system management, and HR consulting. Provided on a permanent, interim, or project basis.
2. Payroll Services: Monthly payroll processing including communication with authorities, preparation of reports and certificates, GDPR-compliant processing with DATEV or Agenda. Billed on fixed price or time and materials basis.
3. Consulting & Projects: HR system implementation, guidance through German bureaucracy for international companies, and tailored workshops. Project-based engagements.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

KUNO provides outsourced HR and payroll services for startups, scale-ups, SMEs, and international companies operating in Germany. Its three core service lines are HR Services (contract drafting, onboarding/offboarding, visa processing, benefits management, and HR system implementation), Payroll Services / Lohnbuchhaltung (monthly payroll processing with authorities communication, GDPR-compliant handling via DATEV or Agenda), and Consulting & Projects (HR system rollouts, German bureaucracy navigation for foreign employers, and tailored workshops). Engagements are delivered on a permanent, interim, or project basis and act as a fully outsourced HR/payroll department.

Product overview

KUNO is an HR and payroll outsourcing service provider offering three integrated service lines: HR Services (contract management, onboarding/offboarding, visa processing, HR system implementation), Payroll Services (monthly payroll processing with GDPR-compliant DATEV/Agenda integration), and Consulting & Projects (system implementation and German bureaucracy guidance). The services are delivered as managed service offerings rather than standalone software products, with KUNO acting as an outsourced HR/payroll department for startups, scale-ups, SMEs, and international companies operating in Germany.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• HR Services Outsourced HR support covering contract and document creation, employee inquiries, benefits management, on/offboarding, HR system management, visa processing, and HR system implementation for startups, scale-ups, SMEs, and international companies operating in Germany.
• Payroll Services (Lohnbuchhaltung) Monthly payroll processing with fast response times, always-on personal contact persons (including substitutes), GDPR-compliant processing via DATEV or Agenda, direct payroll processing or acting as an interface to client tax advisors, plus authority and employee communications.
• Consulting & Projects (Beratung & Projekte) Project-based consulting covering HR system implementation, guidance for international companies through German bureaucracy, and tailored workshops delivered in a practical, hands-on manner with strategic impact.

Quantifiable outcome

• 99% digital and remote operations
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers9 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration17 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• PersoniocoreTechnology or IntegrationHR management system integration. KUNO works with Personio for personnel administration and HR management.
• DATEVcoreTechnology or IntegrationAccounting and payroll software integration. KUNO provides GDPR-compliant payroll processing with DATEV.
• AgendacoreTechnology or IntegrationPayroll accounting software. KUNO provides GDPR-compliant processing with Agenda for payroll accounting.
• nilominorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMental health platform partnership. KUNO collaborates with nilo for mental health support in remote teams, including LinkedIn series and content creation.
• InsurancyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBenefits platform for company pension schemes (bAV). KUNO refers clients to Insurancy for digital bAV management.
• HR Collective MarktplatzminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorMarketplace listing in the HR Collective marketplace for HR services in the DACH region.
• PeopleOminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFemale leadership initiative. KUNO sponsors and supports the Female Leaders Retreat organized by PeopleO.
• Microsoft Ireland OperationscoreTechnology or IntegrationEmail system, data storage, server infrastructure with servers located in Germany.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• SD Worx: European payroll and HR services provider with strong presence in Germany, Belgium, and the Netherlands. Directly comparable in offering multi-country payroll and HR outsourcing to mid-market and enterprise clients, though at significantly larger scale.
• Zalaris: Nordic-headquartered HR and payroll outsourcing provider serving European enterprises. Comparable in delivering managed payroll and HR services, including DACH-region clients, but with a different geographic center of gravity.
• Velocity Global: Established global EOR and international PEO provider with deep DACH coverage. Comparable to KUNO for international-company payroll and HR support, but at much larger scale and with broader geographic reach.
• Personio: Munich-based HR software platform for SMBs in Europe, and a core technology partner of KUNO. Overlaps in target customer (DACH SMBs needing HR/payroll infrastructure) but competes indirectly as companies weigh outsourced services vs. in-house software.

Emerging players

• Lano: Berlin-based global payroll, EOR, and contractor management platform. Direct competitor for KUNO's international-company payroll segment with a software-first approach targeting the same startup and scale-up customer base in DACH.
• Multiplier: Global EOR and payroll platform focused on helping companies hire across borders. Comparable to KUNO on the international-company payroll/HR use case, with a software-led delivery model competing for the same wallet.
• Plane: HR and payroll platform built for global, distributed teams, with EOR capabilities. Comparable to KUNO in serving companies hiring internationally, with overlapping value proposition of simplifying multi-country payroll and HR compliance.

Direct peers

• WorkMotion: Berlin-based global EOR and HR services platform helping companies hire internationally, with particularly strong DACH and EU focus. Directly comparable to KUNO in target customer (international companies entering DACH) and overlapping HR/payroll/consulting service scope.
• Deel: Global EOR, contractor management, and multi-country payroll platform. Directly comparable in serving international companies needing German payroll and HR support, though Deel is software-led and global in scale while KUNO is service-led and DACH-focused.
• Remote: Global EOR, payroll, and HR services platform. Competes for the same international-company-into-Germany use case as KUNO, offering payroll, benefits, and compliance support with a technology-first delivery model.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/kuno-io/mycompany

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about KUNO