Employee benefits should be simple. Instead, they’re often confusing, underused, and a nightmare for HR teams to manage.

That’s exactly what Happl is solving.

Founded by Ben Towers and Mike Rose, Happl is making benefits effortless so employees actually use them, and HR teams aren’t buried in admin work.

“Companies spend millions on benefits, but most employees don’t even know what they have access to,” says Ryan Wilson, Happl’s Marketing and Ops Executive. “HR teams are drowning in admin, and employees are missing out. We knew there had to be a better way.”

Since pivoting from workplace community platform Tahora, Happl has raised $5 million from Y Combinator, 6 Degrees Capital, Ascension, and others and is now operating in 160+ countries, supporting 70+ languages, with a 98%+ retention rate.

And they’re just getting started.

The Pivot That Changed Everything

Happl wasn’t always an employee benefits platform. In fact, it wasn’t even called Happl.

Back in 2020, the company launched as Tahora, a platform built to help remote and hybrid employees stay connected and combat isolation. It quickly gained traction, working with companies like Google, NatWest, and the Met Police.

But as the pandemic eased and budgets tightened, things shifted.

Companies started cutting spend on “community” tools, even though the need for connection hadn’t disappeared. That’s when the team realized something important.

“Companies didn’t have the budget for standalone community tools, but we realised we could build community by managing benefits and connecting people through those moments instead.”

This insight sparked a major pivot from a workplace community platform to a tech-first benefits platform and the launch of Happl, short for “happy people.”

The mission stayed the same: help people feel more connected and supported at work. The path to get there just changed.

Why Businesses Are Choosing Happl

Most companies offer benefits. The problem? They require a lot of admin and employees don’t use them.

Happl solves this by making benefits easy to find, enroll in, and actually use without HR having to manage every request.

  • Personalized employee benefits: Employees see the perks that matter to them.
  • Zero admin for HR teams: Automations and integrations eliminate admin.
  • Available in 160+ countries & 70+ languages: A true global solution.
  • 98%+ retention rate: Because companies and employees love it.

For HR teams, it’s not just a benefits platform, it’s a way to finally make benefits work.

How Happl Is Growing – And What’s Working

Some startups launch with a huge marketing budget. Happl didn’t.

Instead, the team focused on what actually drives growth:

  • Referrals & word-of-mouth: HR leaders love Happl and recommend it to others.
  • Ourtbound sales & account-based marketing (ABM): Targeted outreach to ideal customers.
  • Content marketing: Publishing guides, insights, and value-driven resources.
  • Paid ads & LinkedIn strategy: A few simple LinkedIn posts increased inbound leads by 50%+ organically.

“It’s easy to focus only on sales, but if people don’t know who you are, they won’t think of you when they need a benefits platform. We’re building awareness first, then converting that into sales.”

With a 9-month sales cycle, patience and consistent engagement are key.

AI Without the Buzzwords – How Happl Is Actually Using It

Most companies talk about AI. Happl is actually using it.

  • AI-powered search: Instead of browsing through hundreds of perks, employees can ask, “What benefits do I have for back pain?” and instantly get personalized options.
  • Smart recommendations: Happl suggests the best benefits based on an employee’s needs.
  • A benefits experience that feels effortless: No confusing portals. No wasted perks. Just the right benefits, when you need them.

And then there’s Happl’s mobile app.

  • Employees can enroll in and manage benefits anytime, anywhere.
  • Increases benefits accessibility for all employees.

In an industry where most platforms make it harder to use benefits, Happl is making it seamless.

Biggest Challenge? Scaling Without Losing Simplicity

Happl is growing fast. The challenge? Keeping the experience simple while adding new features.

“We’re constantly improving the platform. At the same time, we have to keep our messaging clear, our user experience seamless, and our team focused on what matters.”

Another challenge? The long B2B sales cycle.

“It can take many months to close a deal within a complicated enterprise, so we’re always engaging, educating, and staying top-of-mind.”

That’s why Happl invests heavily in multi-touch marketing, direct outreach, and customer success.

Lessons for Startup Marketers Ryan’s Advice

For growth marketers in startups, Ryan has three key lessons:

1. Keep going, even when nothing seems to be working.

“Success often comes from one breakthrough. One viral post, one campaign that clicks, one referral from a happy customer. If you stop too soon, you’ll never see it.”

2. Use every connection you have.

“Ask your customers for referrals. It’s not desperate, it’s smart. Some of our biggest clients came from a simple introduction.”

3. Move fast when you see an opportunity.

“If something big is happening in your industry, capitalize on it immediately. The startups that react fast are the ones that win.”

What’s Next for Happl?

Happl has already made a huge impact, working with companies like Redcloud, Bumper, Birdie, Sano, Thriva, and Prolific.

With AI-driven personalization, a global expansion roadmap, and a Series A on the horizon, they’re gearing up for their next phase of growth.

And the mission remains the same: Personalised and Global Employee Benefits, with zero admin for HR.