Migrant workers are a critical labor force for U.S. farms. However, the process of obtaining proper H-2A visas for them can be complex, and ensuring compliance with regulations can be burdensome for farms. Seso was established five years ago to streamline this process and now aims to evolve into a comprehensive HR platform tailored for the agriculture industry.
Michael Guirguis co-founded the startup after being consulted by his cousin about expanding her organic farm. Recognizing the industry’s labor shortage, Guirguis, whose career has always focused on job creation and labor markets, advised against expansion due to the difficulties in hiring sufficient workers. This sparked the idea for Seso, which automates the H-2A visa process to address labor shortages and aid farms in maintaining compliance. Conversations with potential farm clients revealed a broader need for HR support beyond just recruitment.
With a recent $26 million investment, Seso plans to enhance its platform’s capabilities. The Series B funding, led by Mary Meeker of Bond, attracted investments from Index Ventures, NFX, SV Angels, existing Seso clients, and others. The startup doubled its customer base in 2023 and serves 27 of the top 100 agriculture employers in the U.S.
Although the agriculture industry presents significant opportunities for innovation, it has been hesitant to embrace new technologies. Guirguis attributes Seso’s success in selling to farms to its focus on back-office solutions rather than altering farming processes, which farmers currently resist. Adapting back-office tech, according to Guirguis, is a more viable approach.
Feedback directly from farmers has been instrumental in shaping Seso’s direction. Nina Achadjian, a partner at Index Ventures, was initially hesitant but changed her mind after witnessing Guirguis’s commitment to understanding farmers’ needs firsthand. The company’s next focus is automating payroll, given the complexities of farm payroll with varied rates for different types of workers based on crop-picking activities.
