Ganiga raises €1.5 million in equity to expand AI waste technology
Funding from Smart&Start Italia brings the Italian startup’s total to €2.5 million as it targets growth in contract catering.
Italian startup Ganiga has secured €1.5 million in equity financing to develop its waste-management technology and expand sales. Vivenda, an Italian contract caterer, led the investment, joined by NextSTEP of London and three angel investors. A further €1 million from the Invitalia-managed Smart&Start Italia incentive programme takes its total funding to €2.5 million.
Ganiga plans to recruit technical and commercial staff, develop its HooolyFood system and data platform, and grow recurring revenue. Its initial expansion will concentrate on contract catering with Vivenda, followed by event caterers, hotels and other foodservice operators.
HooolyFood uses cameras positioned over waste containers to recognise discarded food without weighing it. The company says the information helps caterers adjust purchasing and menus and manage costs. Developed in under a year, the system is being used in operations that serve more than 30,000 meals a day.
Founded by Nicolas Zeoli in the province of Pisa, Ganiga began with robotic equipment that recognises and sorts waste. It says it has sold more than 300 devices for airports, shopping centres and large businesses in Italy, Japan, Australia and other European countries.
The company’s platform combines device data to assess waste patterns, estimate costs and track how full containers are. Ganiga is also working on automated ingredient ordering and menu planning, alongside sensors that can be fitted to existing containers to monitor municipal waste and other waste streams.
