Central: The Future of Startup Operations

Every founder knows the feeling. You’re deep in the flow of building your product, solving complex technical challenges, when suddenly you’re yanked back to reality by an urgent compliance filing or payroll issue. These administrative tasks aren’t just interruptions – they’re innovation killers.

That’s exactly why we invested in Central. This isn’t just another HR platform; it’s a fundamental reimagining of how startups handle their operations.

The founding team brings exceptional depth of experience in scaling successful technology companies. Josh Wymer, Central’s CEO, was instrumental in Mixpanel’s growth to a $1B+ valuation as one of its earliest employees and head of product engineering, before taking his talents to Meta as a software engineer. Pranav Kashyap, serving as COO, brings deep fintech expertise from his time at Stripe where he built payment and tax products used by millions and prior rebuilt Mixpanel’s self-serve and messaging products. Rounding out the leadership team is Nilay Modi, a second-time Y Combinator founder who previously built and led Clayboard (YC W20).

The problem Central solves is painfully obvious to anyone who’s ever founded a company. While founders should be focused on product development and growth, they instead find themselves drowning in back-office work. State registrations, worker’s compensation, payroll taxes, and compliance filings create an endless maze of bureaucracy that steals precious time and energy.

What sets Central apart is its radically different approach. Instead of providing yet another complex dashboard that founders need to learn and manage, Central handles everything end-to-end. It’s like having an experienced head of HR and finance, but powered by automation and available 24/7 through a simple Slack interface.

The platform’s capabilities are comprehensive: payroll processing across all 50 states, contractor payments in over 200 countries, benefits administration, and complete compliance automation. But what’s truly revolutionary is how it all happens behind the scenes. Founders simply state what they need, and Central makes it happen – no learning curve required.

The early results speak volumes. Over 150 startups already run on Central, and the testimonials are striking. From proactively handling new regulations to eliminating compliance headaches, Central is giving founders back their most precious resource: time.

We’re particularly excited about Central’s vision for the future. In a world where startup operations are becoming increasingly complex, Central is building the infrastructure that will allow founders to focus on what truly matters – building great products and growing their businesses.

At $50 per member per month, Central isn’t just a tool, it’s an investment in focus and peace of mind. For founders who understand that their time is better spent building rather than managing administrative tasks, Central is becoming the obvious choice.

The future of startup operations isn’t about better tools for managing complexity – it’s about eliminating that complexity entirely. That’s the future Central is building, and that’s why we’re excited to be part of their journey.

Visit Central at https://www.centralhq.com.