Rivage Secures €2.6 Million to Revolutionize Payroll Software for Accounting Firms

In a bold move that signals the next wave of digital transformation in France’s accounting sector, Paris-based startup Rivage has successfully closed a €2.6 million pre-seed funding round. The investment, led by the renowned venture capital firm Partech, positions Rivage to challenge the entrenched legacy systems dominating the payroll software market. With participation from high-profile business angels—including the founders of Skello, Hexa, Quarksup, and Teledec—this funding round underscores the industry’s belief in Rivage’s mission to modernize payroll management for accounting firms and their small and medium-sized business (SMB) clients.

A Market Ripe for Disruption

Payroll management is a cornerstone of the French economy, with over half of the country’s employees relying on accounting firms or outsourcing providers for payroll processing and social security declarations. Yet, despite its critical importance, the payroll software market remains largely dominated by outdated, monolithic systems that struggle to keep pace with the accelerating digital transformation of both firms and their clients. These legacy solutions often lack the flexibility, interoperability, and user-centric design needed to meet the evolving demands of modern businesses.

Enter Rivage, a visionary startup founded in July 2025 by Ayoub Saidane, Hector Vergeron, Paul Lemoine, and Tancrède d’Hauteville (CEO). Recognizing the pain points faced by payroll managers—ranging from the increasing complexity of regulatory frameworks to the suffocating monopoly of legacy systems—Rivage has set out to build an open, interoperable payroll software platform. The goal? To boost productivity, reduce administrative burdens, and position payroll data as a strategic tool for broader HR advisory services.

A Collaborative Approach to Innovation

What sets Rivage apart is its collaborative approach to product development. From day one, the founding team has worked hand-in-hand with accounting partners to co-create a solution that addresses real-world challenges. This partnership-driven ethos is reflected in the platform’s design, which prioritizes adaptability, scalability, and user experience. Already, Rivage’s software is being deployed across eight partner firms, providing early validation of its value proposition.

The platform’s open architecture is a game-changer. Unlike traditional payroll systems that lock users into rigid workflows, Rivage’s solution is designed to integrate seamlessly with existing HRIS (Human Resource Information Systems) and other business tools. This interoperability not only streamlines payroll processes but also empowers firms to deliver more comprehensive HR advisory services to their clients.

Leveraging AI for Efficiency

In a sector that has seen limited technological innovation, Rivage is positioning itself at the forefront of a new era. Advances in artificial intelligence (AI) are creating unprecedented opportunities to enhance efficiency and accuracy in payroll management. By automating complex and time-consuming tasks—such as regulatory compliance checks, payroll calculations, and social security declarations—Rivage aims to free up payroll managers to focus on higher-value activities.

The potential impact is significant. For accounting firms, this means reduced operational costs and improved client satisfaction. For SMBs, it translates to more reliable, transparent, and timely payroll services. And for Rivage, it represents a clear path to market leadership in a sector ripe for disruption.

Strategic Use of Funding

The €2.6 million pre-seed funding will be strategically deployed to accelerate Rivage’s growth and product development. Key priorities include:

1. Platform Enhancement: Continued investment in the platform’s core functionality, with a focus on improving efficiency and reliability at every stage of the payroll cycle. This includes deeper HRIS integrations, simplified advanced configuration options, and enhanced auditability of payroll and DSN (Déclaration Sociale Nominative) calculations.

2. Regulatory Compliance: Expanding the platform’s coverage of collective agreements to ensure compliance with France’s complex labor laws. By the end of the year, Rivage plans to support a broader range of agreements, further solidifying its position as a comprehensive payroll solution.

3. Market Expansion: Scaling the platform’s deployment across more accounting firms and SMBs, with the ultimate goal of becoming the go-to payroll software for the French market.

A Vision for the Future

Tancrède d’Hauteville, Rivage’s CEO, is clear about the company’s mission. “Between the increasing complexity of regulatory frameworks, the accelerating digitalization of VSBs/SMBs, and the suffocating monopoly imposed by legacy solutions, payroll has become a major pain point for firms,” he explains. “From the outset, we built Rivage with our accounting partners to enable them to break out of this dependence, to gain long-term productivity, and to be in line with their customers’ demands.”

This vision resonates strongly with investors and industry experts alike. Partech, known for backing category-defining companies, sees Rivage as a transformative force in the payroll software market. “Rivage is addressing a critical need in the French economy,” says a spokesperson for Partech. “Their open, interoperable platform has the potential to unlock significant value for accounting firms and their clients, while setting a new standard for innovation in the sector.”

The Road Ahead

As Rivage embarks on its next phase of growth, the stakes are high. The payroll software market in France is vast, but it is also fiercely competitive. Legacy players with deep pockets and established customer bases will not cede ground easily. However, Rivage’s combination of cutting-edge technology, collaborative approach, and clear market focus gives it a strong foundation for success.

The coming months will be critical as the company rolls out new features, expands its partner network, and continues to refine its product based on user feedback. If Rivage can deliver on its promise of a modern, scalable, and user-friendly payroll solution, it could well become the catalyst for a broader digital transformation in the accounting sector.

Conclusion

Rivage’s €2.6 million funding round is more than just a financial milestone—it’s a statement of intent. By challenging the status quo and reimagining payroll software for the digital age, Rivage is poised to reshape the way accounting firms and SMBs manage one of their most critical business functions. With a visionary team, strategic investors, and a clear roadmap for growth, Rivage is a startup to watch in the years ahead.

As the company continues to innovate and expand, one thing is certain: the future of payroll management in France is looking brighter—and more efficient—than ever.

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