Italian deeptech startup Ganiga has secured €1.5 million in an equity funding round to advance its artificial intelligence and computer vision technology for waste management and food waste reduction. The investment was led by contract catering operator Vivenda, with participation from London-based NextSTEP and three angel investors. When combined with €1 million from the Smart&Start Italia program managed by Invitalia, Ganiga's total funding reaches €2.5 million.
Funding Structure and Investors
Vivenda, which serves more than 50 million meals per year and is part of Consorzio La Cascina, led the equity round to support Ganiga's commercial expansion. NextSTEP, based in London, and three business angels also participated in the transaction. The €1 million secured through Smart&Start Italia, an incentive program managed by Invitalia, brought Ganiga's total resources to €2.5 million.
Leadership Perspectives
Nicolas Zeoli, founder and CEO of Ganiga, said the new capital will help scale technology already deployed in commercial settings. He explained that a canteen needs to know which dishes are being wasted and why to obtain actionable data for purchasing, menu planning, and service delivery. Zeoli added that the European Union directive makes food waste reduction a binding target, and operators cannot reduce what they do not measure.
Investor Statement
Emilio Roussier Fusco, president of Vivenda, said contract catering needs reliable data to reduce waste and manage services more effectively. He added that Vivenda chose to invest in Ganiga because the technology is already operational in canteens and can become a practical tool for the entire sector. The partnership provides Ganiga with capital alongside the experience of a company that manages collective catering every day.
Origins in Robotic Waste Sorting
Founded in the province of Pisa by Nicolas Zeoli, Ganiga initially focused on robotic waste sorting devices that identify and separate different types of waste. The company has sold more than 300 devices for use in airports, shopping centers, and large businesses across Italy, Japan, Australia, and other European countries. The data collected from these deployments helped inform the startup's expansion into food waste management.
HooolyFood and Waste Monitoring
HooolyFood is an AI-powered system designed to help catering operators monitor and reduce food waste. Cameras installed above waste containers identify discarded food without requiring weighing, giving operators information to identify inefficiencies and improve purchasing and menu planning. Developed in less than a year, the technology is already deployed in operations serving more than 30,000 meals daily.
Data Platform and Automation
Ganiga's proprietary data platform brings information from its devices into a single dashboard to analyze waste patterns, estimate costs, and monitor container fill levels. The company is also extending its technology to automate ingredient ordering and menu planning. In addition, the company is developing sensors for existing containers to monitor municipal and other waste streams beyond food services.
Regulatory Context
The development comes as the European Union introduces binding targets to reduce food waste by 2030. According to Eurostat, the EU generated approximately 58 million metric tons of food waste in 2023, highlighting the need for more efficient waste management across industries. The regulatory pressure is creating demand for measurement tools in food services and related sectors.
Growth Strategy
With the new funding, Ganiga plans to expand its technical and commercial teams, further develop HooolyFood and its data platform, and increase recurring revenue. The company will initially focus on expanding within contract catering alongside Vivenda. It then aims to target event catering, hotels, and other foodservice settings after establishing a stronger foothold in contract catering.
The investment underscores growing demand for measurable food waste reduction technologies as EU regulations approach. By combining robotics, computer vision, and artificial intelligence, Ganiga aims to turn waste data into operational and financial improvements for large-scale catering. The partnership with Vivenda offers industrial expertise and a direct route to scale within the contract catering market.