Orbisk, a Dutch scaleup committed to reducing food waste using AI technology, has successfully secured €8+ million in an oversubscribed Series A venture capital investment round led by new partner Regeneration.VC and co-led by existing partner PeakBridge. Other investors are new partner Kost Capital, as well as early investors DOEN Participaties and Brabant Development Agency (BOM) and EIT Food’s AgriFoodInvest. The funds raised from the Series A will be used to further develop AI technology, drive operational innovation, enhance customer integrations, and strengthen the global team.
Tackling the global food waste problem
Minimizing food waste is essential in combating climate change, given that one-third of the world's food production goes unused and ultimately discarded. By combating food waste, CO2 emissions can be reduced, and opportunities arise to optimize the use of water and land. Additionally, it can significantly improve the profit margins of food service enterprises, in some cases even doubling them. Through more efficient kitchen processes, these businesses can lower costs by purchasing more effectively and optimize their staffing.
Since 2019, Orbisk's mission is to create a more sustainable food system. With their AI food waste monitor 'the Orbi', they enable food service operators such as hotels, catering services, cruise ships and restaurants to reduce their food waste through process optimization. The Orbi supports the optimization of professional kitchen processes and the improvement of food efficiency by registering food waste and identifying the operational causes of waste. The collected data is presented in a dashboard, which offers actionable advice for process optimizations.
“Nobody likes waste and food waste is no exception,” says Martijn Lopes Cardozo, Partner at Regeneration.VC. “With 20% of global food waste in hospitality, this is a large environmental and economic opportunity and as a result Orbisk is growing rapidly powered by their best-in-class solution. Our global team is excited about scaling this important technology in the USA and introducing Orbisk to corporate customers in our network."
“Since inception the Orbisk team has demonstrated a relentless focus on solving the global challenge of food waste," says Thomas van den Boezem, Partner at PeakBridge. “Their unique AI-enabled approach aligns well with PeakBridge’s mission to support bold innovations addressing real industry needs. We are confident that this investment will help Orbisk deliver sustainability and efficiency to customers across the world.”
Delivering strong return on investment to customers
In recent years, Orbisk has significantly expanded its efforts to motivate as many professional kitchens as possible with its mission to combat food waste and improve their economic returns. Typically, customers save 3-10x on food waste compared to the monthly fees, while enabling one of the biggest climate opportunities. Orbisk partnered with Accor, a global hospitality leader. The contribution of Orbisk and the commitment of the hotel teams have helped Accor to be on track to reduce food waste by 60% by 2030 across their participating hotels, a goal that surpasses even the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals.
Additionally, Orbisk has further strengthened its position in the USA market through a partnership with Carnival Cruise Line, the world’s largest cruise operator. Following a successful pilot, the innovative Orbi systems will be deployed on select Carnival ships in 2025.
International expansion
Currently, Orbisk already operates in over 40 countries worldwide, assisting chefs on five different continents to optimize their kitchen processes. Further geographical expansion is anticipated. "The Series A investment fuels Orbisk's ambitious growth plans," says CEO and co-founder Olaf van der Veen. "This financial boost allows us to accelerate the impact we strive for, as food waste regrettably transcends borders. By enhancing our presence in the USA, and eventually expanding into Asia, we can greatly increase the amount of food saved.”
In Europe, approximately 25 to 30% of total food production is discarded, while in the USA, this figure approaches 40%. "There is already considerable traction in the USA, and Orbisk can make a significant impact there. Our goal is to establish a stronger foothold in the USA," Olaf explains.
Michiel Bakker, member of Orbisk's supervisory board, added: “This Series A funding is a pivotal milestone for Orbisk, driving forward its mission to revolutionize food waste management through innovative technology. During my time at Google, I witnessed the power of data-driven solutions to minimize waste and enhance sustainability in global food operations. Now, as part of my role with the Culinary Institute of America, I see how critical it is to prepare the next generation of food leaders to embrace innovation and sustainability. Orbisk exemplifies this vision, empowering businesses to operate responsibly and efficiently. I am honored to support Orbisk in leading the charge toward a future where food systems are smarter, more sustainable, and waste-free.”
