Client Background
Dr.Bear is a new digital startup in the tech landscape, based in Lisbon, Portugal.
The company works with innovative solutions for small agricultural businesses in Europe. It’s a self-reliant network that reinforces collaboration in organic produce across the European Union, helping connect local farmers and door-to-door organic food producers.
With a mission to deliver cutting-edge solutions that enhance user experiences, Dr.Bear recognizes the importance of building a strong team.
As the company sets its sights on global expansion to countries like Zanzibar and Costa Rica, the challenge of sourcing top-tier IT talent remotely has become critical. The rapidly changing landscape of the tech industry calls for a flexible and efficient hiring strategy that not only attracts the best local talent but also manages the complexities of employment on different continents.
Objective
Dr.Bear needed assistance in managing payroll and compliance for IT staff in Costa Rica and Zanzibar. Additionally, the company believed that adopting a holistic hiring approach would enable them to connect deeply with the local culture.
By employing professionals who understand the regional market dynamics, GEOR aimed to ensure that their solutions were both relevant and impactful. As Dr.Bear expanded, they needed to build and adopt the existing solution to local organic farmers’ needs, which included further local wage assistance, law research, and our close collaboration in hiring and onboarding members of the team.
Project Execution
By establishing a business-specific comprehensive payroll management system that spanned multiple continents, GEOR ensured that Dr.Bear could efficiently manage its financial commitments while following local regulations. The startup launched their international payroll and compliance framework with the help of our team. This approach marked a blueprint for the company’s future objectives in North America and Australia.
Dr. Bear has become a proof-of-concept of how a small tech-oriented team, operating remotely, can build something meaningful and impactful, relying only on a strategic decision to manage payroll and harnessing the human factor prior to technology.
To effectively address hiring challenges in both Costa Rica and Zanzibar, GEOR looked into each country’s labor framework and economic trends. In Tanzania, where the labor market is influenced by distinct regulations across the mainland and Zanzibar regions due to separate provincial and labor structures, our company customized compliance and payroll solutions to bridge these differences. In Costa Rica, 67.6% of the workforce is in services, and new incentives like the digital nomad law further foster remote work. We applied its methodology of hiring to attract and retain remote and local professionals, benefiting from the relaxed tax policies and the country’s growth in tech-friendly initiatives. Beyond just streamlining payroll, we designed strategies for hiring across continents.
Project Phases
- Needs Assessment
GEOR conducted a thorough analysis of Dr.Bear’s payroll requirements across target regions. This assessment involved understanding the specific labor laws and compliance regulations relevant to each country where Dr.Bear planned to hire – Costa Rica, Zanzibar, and some European countries that are not part of the EU. We developed a hiring strategy, ensuring that the startup was equipped to meet local demands while remaining aligned with global best practices. - Implementation
A designed from-scratch global payroll management system was deployed for Dr.Bear. This system facilitated local payments and ensured compliance with regional employment laws, allowing the startup to hire confidently in the timeframe. As they continue being our partner, we help navigate the labor markets in other regions, building their salaries and benefits strategy together. - Continuous Support
GEOR provides ongoing counseling, adapting to regulatory changes and supporting Dr.Bear as it expands its IT team. This entails regular updates on compliance requirements and tax regulations, ensuring that the company remains ahead of any potential issues.
Outcomes
Through the GEOR’s partnership, Dr.Bear efficiently navigated its payroll landscape, empowering the recruitment of skilled IT professionals across multiple continents and legislations. It has turned into a great part of their comprehensive strategy to work with local cultures.
This collaboration not only streamlined payroll operations but also established a solid framework for their ambitious growth trajectory. It also fostered a strong local presence in Costa Rica and Zanzibar, connecting their agricultural community with the small businesses in the EU.
The agility gained through this partnership strengthened Dr.Bear’s capacity to respond to market demands swiftly, paving the way for sustained growth and success in the competitive tech industry.