After earning his degree from Cornell University, Christophe Gerlach spent nearly two years investing in HR technology startups for General Atlantic. Though he found the work intellectually stimulating, he missed the hands-on experience of building a company. His entrepreneurial itch had been sparked earlier at Cornell, where he co-founded and sold a food delivery startup with classmate Pedro Bobrow, a Brazilian native. In late 2022, the two reunited, combining their expertise and cultural insights to launch Comp, a Brazil-based HR tech startup. Comp is developing AI-powered software designed to streamline core HR functions, including recruiting, compensation planning, and performance management. What sets the company apart is its hybrid model: alongside its AI tools, Comp deploys “forward-deployed” HR executives—former senior HR leaders—who work directly with clients to design and implement strategies. These professionals aren’t consultants in the traditional sense; instead, they act as extensions of their clients’ internal HR teams. The human-led work is crucial to the company’s AI development. “Our forward-deployed HR execs do all the work manually at first, and then they use that experience to train the AI on best practices,” Gerlach explained. The goal is to eventually transition to fully autonomous AI agents capable of handling complex HR tasks independently. While companies in Brazil often rely on traditional compensation consultants, Gerlach emphasizes that Comp’s team members are not temporary advisors but integral parts of the client’s HR infrastructure. This close collaboration also feeds valuable real-world data back into the AI, helping it evolve faster and more accurately. Comp’s vision is ambitious: to replace both legacy consulting firms and conventional HR software platforms. “Rippling sells software to junior HR teams to make them more productive. We become the HR team,” Gerlach said. The company recently closed a $17.25 million Series A round led by Khosla Ventures, marking the firm’s first investment in a Brazilian startup. Keith Rabois, a general partner at Khosla Ventures, has joined Comp’s board. The round also included participation from existing investors Kaszek and Canary, as well as new backers Abstract Ventures and Endeavor Catalyst. Comp is targeting a market gap in Brazil, where many companies lack access to mature HR software. This has allowed the startup to introduce a modern, AI-driven model from the ground up, rather than competing with entrenched platforms. The strategy is already paying off—clients include major Brazilian tech companies such as Nubank, QuintoAndar, Creditas, and “pretty much every unicorn in Brazil.” With strong early traction, Comp is now preparing to expand into the U.S. and other international markets, aiming to become a global alternative to traditional HR consultancies like Mercer, Korn Ferry, and Willis Towers Watson, as well as platforms like Rippling and Workday.