As more services move on-demand, and as more businesses that rely on on-demand workers go global, there’s a growing need for companies in the on-demand space to simplify the way contractors are vetted and reduce the amount of time it takes to bring them on-board. A U.K.-based startup called Onfido wants to help automate the process of doing background checks in this new, on-demand economy. With that purpose in mind, the company has raised $4.5 million in Series A funding to help it grow into new markets, especially the U.S. Founded in 2012, Onfido enables companies to quickly verify the identity of workers and run criminal and other necessary background checks. Instead of doing manual checks like most traditional agencies, Onfido has created a platform that automates the collection of data, which can speed up hiring and on-boarding.

http://techcrunch.com/2015/02/17/onfido/