Clair, a Fintech startup enabling bank-originated Earned Wage Access (EWA) for employees across the US, has raised $23.2 million in a Series B round led by Upfront Ventures, according to an announcement.
The round, which was also backed by backer Thrive Capital and others, brings Clair’s total equity funding to $68.7 million.
The fresh capital will be used to expand Clair’s embedded EWA platform, deepen integrations with payroll and workforce management systems, and support its growing footprint, now spanning over 29,000 business locations across 29 industries, per the announcement.
Clair enables workers to access their earned wages instantly and at no cost to employers, addressing a critical liquidity gap in today’s workforce economy.
The funding comes on the heels of Clair’s partnership with Gusto, a major payroll and HR platform. Since its launch in July 2024, the integration has seen rapid uptake, with 43% of employees taking their first wage advance within two minutes.
The success highlights rising demand for flexible pay solutions and Clair’s focus on seamless, embedded user experiences.
CEO and founder Nico Simko described the opportunity as vast, citing over 50 million US employees who could benefit from instant wage access directly through apps they already use for scheduling or payroll.
“We believe workforce management tools are evolving into super apps—and EWA should be just three clicks away,” Simko said.
Clair’s model is bolstered by its partnership with FDIC-insured Pathward, which originates all advances directly to consumers, providing regulatory certainty and scalability.
Unlike many fintech EWA offerings, Clair provides interest-free, bank-issued advances—enhancing financial inclusion while helping employers attract and retain talent.
The company said it will use the Series B proceeds to accelerate product development, onboard new partner platforms, and further establish its position as a trusted infrastructure provider in the growing on-demand pay space.