SaaS Unicorn Darwinbox Wraps Up 3rd ESOP Buyback Valued at ₹86 Cr

SaaS (Software-as-a-Service) unicorn Darwinbox has completed a ₹86 crore employee stock ownership plan (Esop) buyback, the company said in an official statement. In this round, over 350 employees across its 11 global offices have sold their options to the company. Notably, this is Darwinbox’s third such transaction in four years.

In Esop buybacks, a company usually repurchases its own shares or stock options from employees who hold vested options. It allows employees to convert their notional equity into cash, which provides liquidity and creates wealth without the need of a major exit like an IPO or acquisition.

“Even as we invest deeply in innovation and global growth, we remain equally committed to creating meaningful outcomes for our people. This buyback, like the ones before, reflects our belief in sharing success with our people and building a culture of ownership,” said Jayant Paleti, cofounder, Darwinbox.

Speaking about the Esop buyback move, cofounder Chaitanya Peddi stated that the company is focused on ensuring that employees grow with the organization not only in impact but also through wealth creation.

In March 2025, Darwinbox added global private equity giants Partners Group and KKR to its cap table through a $140 million deal to further strengthen its position to lead on two critical fronts: deep technology innovation and global market expansion.

Founded in 2015, Darwinbox provides cloud-based human capital management (HCM) solutions and says it supports over 4 million employees across over 1,000 enterprises worldwide. Its customer base includes well-known names such as Starbucks, McDonald's, Airtel, AXA, and Vedanta.

Recently, it has launched several AI-driven products like MCP (Model Context Protocol), which allows AI agents to securely interact with HR data and workflows.

The company’s GenAI engine, Darwinbox Sense, now delivers over 40 embedded AI capabilities, driving smarter decisions and elevated experiences. Darwinbox also recently rolled out a multi-country payroll solution across 10 new geographies within the last year, solidifying its capability to serve complex global organisations.