Zeal

Payroll & Earned Wage Access

Embedded payroll API for staffing, gig, and vertical SaaS platforms with real-time wage payments.

Overview

Zeal (formerly Puzzl Group Inc.) is an embedded payroll API focused on staffing platforms, gig economy operators, and vertical SaaS — markets that historically struggle with traditional payroll because of high worker turnover, multi-state compliance, and the need for same-day or real-time wage payments. Zeal's API and white-label UI let platforms launch a fully branded payroll product with embedded debit cards (issued via Mastercard with Bangor Savings Bank as FDIC-insured banking partner), real-time payments, and multi-state tax filing across all 50 US states and territories. Zeal handles the full payroll compliance stack: federal and state tax filing, W-2 and 1099 generation, ACH and same-day payments, employer KYC, and money transmitter licensing. The platform is specifically architected for platforms whose workforce changes daily (staffing, gig, marketplaces), with features like instant onboarding, per-shift payroll runs, and a paycard product that doubles as a worker bank account. Notable customers include Wonolo, Qwick, Lawtrades, Band of Hands, and WorkGenius — all staffing or gig-marketplace platforms. Founded in 2019 (YC S19) by Kirti Shenoy (CEO) and Pranshu Yadav (CTO). Headquartered in San Francisco. As of October 2024, Zeal closed a $15M Series B led by Portage Ventures, bringing total funding to $29M (Series A was $13M led by Spark Capital in 2021). The company holds SOC 2 certification. Pricing is opaque and custom for platform partners.

Key features

• Real-time and same-day payroll payments
• Embedded Mastercard paycards via Bangor Savings
• Multi-state tax filing (50 states + territories)
• Per-shift payroll runs
• Instant worker onboarding APIs
• White-label payroll UI components