PERSOL Asia Pacific acquires Workmate in 8-figure deal

PERSOL Asia Pacific, one of the largest HR services providers in the region, has acquired Singapore-based on-demand staffing platform Workmate in an eight-figure deal (full terms remain undisclosed at the time of the announcement). 

The acquisition is the latest in a series of investments that Tokyo-listed PERSOL has recently made in tech-based HR services platforms, many of which target specific geographies around the Asia Pacific region. This year alone, PERSOL has already invested in Singapore-based Intellect, which is notable for catering to users in 15 different languages; in Malaysia-based hybrid recruitment platform Hiredly; and in India-based frontline workers' recruitment platform WorkIndia. Workmate, the newest addition, operates in Thailand and Indonesia.

Workmate was founded as Helpster in 2016 by Mathew Ward and John Srivovakul, and specialises in recruitment for the blue-collar workforce. Prior to the acquisition, it had raised approximately US$8 million in funding and was ranked 4th in the Financial Times’ 2022 list of Asia-Pacific high-growth companies. The startup will continue to operate independently under its own brand, according to its own announcement.

Takayuki Yamazaki, CEO of PERSOL Asia Pacific, said of the acquisition: “We have been impressed by the value that Workmate’s all-in-one on-demand staffing platform delivers to candidates, workers, and employers and are excited to be partnering with them to accelerate their innovation and expand their services to other markets in Asia.”