Orbio raises $21 million to automate hiring and onboarding for frontline workers

After a decade at Amazon and floriculture startup Colvin, Sergi Bastardas felt that there wasn't enough efficient 'human infrastructure' to manage behind-the-scenes workers. This feeling led him to launch Orbio in 2025, alongside co-founders Nacho Travesí and Antonio Melé. Orbio is an enterprise startup that uses AI agents to help businesses manage frontline workers.

On Monday, the company announced a $21 million Series A round led by Dawn Capital. Orbio's customers include Poke and YUM! Brands, which use the software to onboard and manage frontline employees.

Bastardas said customers are moving from pilot programs to full deployments. For example, at The Stepping Stones Group, Orbio now runs the company's full US operation, with 20% more candidates being hired. The Orbio agents, named Maria, Daniel, and Claire, can interview candidates, assess fit, monitor employee output, and conduct daily check-ins throughout an employee's work lifecycle.

The goal is to help businesses run their workforces autonomously, Bastardas said, adding that businesses will be able to engage and support frontline workforces while delegating some operations to AI agents. 'Each agent generates data that feeds back into the others: onboarding signals inform recruiting quality; exit interviews reveal why employees leave, which recalibrates hiring criteria; engagement data identifies retention risks,' he continued. Orbio competes with startups like Paradox, which automates recruiting, and WorkJam, which manages frontline employees.

Bastardas considers the legacy approach to managing frontline workers, especially in industries like healthcare, retail, and logistics, to be Orbio's biggest competitor. This approach is often fragmented and involves spreadsheets and phone calls. Orbio has raised $26 million in funding to date from investors, including Visionaries and 2100 Ventures.

Bastardas said the fresh capital will be used to hire and develop more AI agents. 'This will be [a] transformation for businesses, but also the workforce,' Bastardas said. 'The 2.7 billion people who keep healthcare, retail, logistics, and hospitality running, most of whom don’t have a corporate email address, have previously got nothing.

This is their AI moment.' Why this matters: The funding secured by Orbio highlights the growing demand for automation in frontline worker management. As AI technology advances, businesses are looking for ways to streamline their operations and improve workforce efficiency. Orbio's AI agents have the potential to transform the way companies manage their frontline workers, particularly in industries where employees often lack access to digital tools.

With this investment, Orbio is well-positioned to expand its offerings and compete with established players in the market. However, questions remain about the potential impact on employment and the need for workers to develop new skills in an AI-driven environment. As Orbio continues to grow and develop its technology, it will be important to monitor its progress and assess the broader implications for the future of work.