Italian deeptech startup Ganiga has raised €1.5 million in an equity funding round to improve its AI-powered waste management technology and expand its business. The round was led by Italian catering company Vivenda, with participation from London-based NextSTEP and three angel investors. The company has also secured €1 million through Smart&Start Italia, a funding programme managed by Invitalia, bringing its total funding to €2.5 million.
Founded in the province of Pisa by Nicolas Zeoli, Ganiga develops technology that combines artificial intelligence (AI), computer vision and robotics to improve waste management and reduce food waste. The company initially focused on building robots that can identify and separate different types of waste. It has sold more than 300 devices to airports, shopping centres and large businesses across Italy, Japan, Australia and other European countries.
Using data collected from its devices, Ganiga later expanded into food waste management with HooolyFood. This AI-powered system helps catering businesses track and reduce the amount of food they throw away. Cameras installed above waste bins identify discarded food without the need to weigh it. The system provides useful information that helps businesses reduce waste, improve purchasing decisions, plan menus and control costs. Developed in less than a year, the technology is already being used in operations that serve more than 30,000 meals every day.
Ganiga also has its own data platform that brings information from its devices into a single dashboard. Businesses can use it to understand waste patterns, estimate costs and check how full their containers are. The company is also developing technology to automate ingredient ordering and menu planning. In addition, it is working on sensors that can be fitted to existing containers to monitor waste levels in cities and other environments.
Ganiga’s technology comes at a time when the European Union is introducing targets to reduce food waste by 2030. According to Eurostat, the EU generated around 58 million tonnes of food waste in 2023. This highlights the growing need for better waste management solutions across industries, particularly in the food service sector.
Nicolas Zeoli, founder and CEO of Ganiga, said the investment will help scale technology already deployed in commercial settings. He added: “For a canteen, knowing which dishes are being wasted and why provides actionable data to inform purchasing, menu planning and service delivery. The new EU directive makes food waste reduction a binding target, and you cannot reduce what you do not measure.”
Ganiga will use the new funding to grow its technical and sales teams, improve HooolyFood and its data platform, and increase its regular income. The company will first focus on expanding its services in the contract catering sector with Vivenda. It then plans to reach more customers in event catering, hotels and other food service businesses.
