We’re delighted to share some fantastic news: Orbisk, a Dutch scale-up and StartLife alumnus dedicated to cutting food waste through AI-powered innovation, has secured more than €8 million in an oversubscribed Series A funding round.
Transforming kitchens with AI
At the core of Orbisk’s technology is the “Orbi”—an AI-driven food waste monitor that helps hospitality businesses of all sizes, from hotels and catering services to cruise ships and restaurants, reduce the amount of food they discard. By tracking what ends up in the bin, Orbi identifies where inefficiencies lie and offers actionable insights to prevent waste in the future. This is no small issue: worldwide, about one-third of all food produced goes unused, and in the hospitality sector, that number reaches approximately 20%.
Scaling beyond Europe
“Orbisk has developed a best-in-class solution, and we’re eager to help scale it worldwide, especially in the United States,” said Martijn Lopes Cardozo, Partner at Regeneration.VC. The fresh capital will help Orbisk strengthen its presence in Europe, accelerate growth in the U.S., and set the stage for expansion into Asia—crucial steps towards transforming the global food industry’s sustainability profile.
Nearly 1,000 Orbi devices are already deployed across more than 40 countries, collectively preventing over two million kilograms of food from going to waste. According to Orbisk co-founder Olaf van der Veen, this is just the start. “Next year, we’ll double that impact,” he told Quote, adding that the company’s long-term vision aims to prevent two billion kilograms of food waste by 2029.
Scaling beyond Europe
This new funding marks a major turning point, enabling Orbisk to grow its global footprint, strengthen its presence in Europe, continue expanding in the U.S., and eventually move into the Asian market. “Reducing food waste has always been our mission,” Olaf noted. “This investment empowers us to make an even greater difference worldwide.”
StartLife’s early support
We vividly remember the day Olaf first walked into our office with nothing but a bold idea, and how he later became part of our very first StartLife Accelerate program six years ago. We’ve watched Orbisk’s journey with pride and admiration.
To Olaf van der Veen, Bart van Arnhem, Richard Beks, and the entire Orbisk team, congratulations on this remarkable achievement. We can’t wait to see what you accomplish next!
A heartfelt thanks goes out to Regeneration.VC, Kost Capital, DOEN Participaties B.V., Brabantse Ontwikkelings Maatschappij (BOM), and EIT Food AgriFoodInvest for believing in Orbisk’s mission and supporting them on this path to a more sustainable future.