Lava.AI
at a glance
Founded in San Francisco in 2016, Lava.AI is an innovative SaaS startup that is redefining live event experiences by enabling real-time fan engagement in sports and entertainment.
To scale quickly and reach its ambitious growth targets, Lava.AI partnered with TriNet and Oyster to ensure seamless HR operations and onboard top global talent. The result: scalable infrastructure, reliable compliance, and more time to focus on strategic initiatives like company culture and employee experience.
- Lava.AI is able to scale confidently in the U.S. and globally.
- They’ve hired 11 team members in 4 countries with Oyster.
- Lava.AI is able to offer best-in-class benefits globally.
The challenge
As a small startup with a global vision, Lava.AI knew early on that they needed the ability to scale their operations quickly—both within the U.S. and internationally. Following a successful Series A raise in 2024, they decided it was time to double down on their ambitious growth strategy. For Mala Wai, Head of HR and Operations at Lava.AI, it was important to find a solution that would make things easier for her lean team.
Lava.AI initially used TriNet for their U.S. team, but then switched to a low-cost, self-service payroll provider. However, this meant handling compliance and benefits in-house, which required a lot of manual work and painstaking research to meet compliance requirements ranging from workers’ compensation to registering in multiple states. They also found it very costly to purchase benefits as a small company.
“We had a less expensive provider, but quickly realized we needed more than just technology. We needed hands-on compliance and benefits support. We ended up spending more time and money managing everything ourselves.”
In addition to growing their American team, Lava.AI also needed the ability to hire across borders. As a San Francisco-based startup, they were in a saturated talent market and needed to look elsewhere for talent.
“Having a global workforce was a necessity for us, not an option. As a startup, we didn’t have the resources to compete with tech giants like Google or Meta. So, in order to grow, we had to grow globally.”
But without legal entities abroad, they didn’t have the compliant infrastructure to employ talent in other countries. They wanted to scale fast, so setting up entities would be both expensive and time-consuming.
Ideally, Lava.AI needed an integrated solution that would set them up to scale quickly and compliantly, both in the U.S. and globally, so they could pursue their ambitious growth and expansion goals.
The solution
In 2024, after completing a successful Series A funding round, Lava.AI re-engaged with TriNet—this time with a clear mandate: scale confidently and globally. “The Series A was a turning point,” Mala explains. “It gave us the resources to grow, and we needed a partner who could support that growth operationally.”
Lava.AI chose TriNet because it’s a full-service HR solution that includes payroll, compliance, access to benefits, and strategic HR guidance for their U.S. workforce. They also appreciate TriNet’s vetted network of partners that allows them to integrate with other business tools and access discounts from companies like Ramp and WeWork.
It was through TriNet’s partner network that Lava.AI found and engaged Oyster in August 2024. “Since TriNet recommends Oyster, we didn’t have to research and vet EOR vendors on our own,” says Mala. “We trusted that as a TriNet partner, Oyster will deliver on service quality, compliance, and value.”
Lava.AI chose Oyster because its integration with TriNet means they can view and manage their U.S. and international workforce from a single dashboard. With Oyster, they’ve been able to hire global talent easily and compliantly, without the legal or logistical hassles of cross border employment.
Mala particularly appreciates the smooth onboarding experience for new team members, with good communication and support from the Oyster team. Thanks to Oyster, they’re also able to provide competitive benefits packages to attract and retain their global employees. Mala considers Oyster to be a reliable partner and a seamless extension of their team, providing a stable foundation for global growth.
“With TriNet and Oyster, we finally had the infrastructure to scale. We hired three engineers in Ireland this year, and the process was smooth and well supported.”
By partnering with TriNet and Oyster, Lava.AI has been able to scale confidently both in the U.S. and globally, with complete peace of mind regarding compliance.
With support from Oyster, Lava.AI has hired 11 team members in four countries, with their global team spanning North America, Europe, and Asia—while saving on global employment costs thanks to the partner discount on the Oyster fee.
Leaving HR compliance and admin to TriNet and Oyster means that Mala now spends less time on day-to-day HR admin, and can instead focus on strategic HR priorities such as developing onboarding programs, setting up performance reviews, improving the employee experience, and more.
When it comes to the employee experience, Lava.AI is now able to offer competitive healthcare options to both their American and global team members, which is critical for attracting and retaining top talent.
Similarly, Oyster enables Lava.AI to offer excellent benefits for their global team members, which helps position Lava.AI as a competitive employer. The seamless partnership with Oyster ensures that their international hires have access to comprehensive, localized benefits, no matter where they’re based.
“Oyster is an extension of our team. We rely on Oyster to deliver a seamless employee experience with best-in-class benefits for our global employees.”
Looking ahead, Lava.AI is well set up to scale fast and achieve its ambitious growth targets, backed by a secure and scalable HR foundation. The company plans to grow its international workforce and deepen its focus on culture-building and employee engagement—all made possible by TriNet and Oyster.
“As a small startup, we can’t always compete with big tech. But what we can do is offer a world-class employee experience. TriNet and Oyster help us do that, every day.”
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