ThrowMeNot, a UAE-based online food marketplace focused on sustainability, has closed a $550,000 pre-seed funding round led by Sheikh Ahmed bin Mana bin Khalifa Saeed Al Maktoum. The investment will accelerate the company’s expansion, enhancing its delivery and fulfillment capabilities to offer a seamless experience for consumers. Founded in 2025, ThrowMeNot aims to tackle one of the region’s most pressing challenges: food waste.
Addressing Food Waste in the UAE
Nearly 40% of food produced or purchased in the UAE is wasted each year, costing the economy an estimated AED 6 billion. Archie Rudyuk, founder and CEO of ThrowMeNot, noted that approximately 3.27 million tonnes of food are discarded annually. By connecting suppliers with consumers, the platform enables near-expiry products to be sold at discounted rates, recovering value while making high-quality goods more accessible.
How ThrowMeNot Works
ThrowMeNot operates a dedicated online marketplace that redistributes surplus and near-expiry items. Consumers can purchase products at discounts of up to 90% off retail prices, ranging from chocolates and vitamins to beauty items. The platform currently lists more than 2,700 products from over 25 suppliers, including 885 popular brands, creating a commercial model where reducing waste is profitable for suppliers and convenient for buyers.
Investor Support and Strategic Vision
Sheikh Ahmed bin Mana Al Maktoum, an early investor in ThrowMeNot, highlighted the platform’s alignment with the UAE’s sustainability goals. “ThrowMeNot helps suppliers recover value while providing consumers with affordable food, contributing to a more conscious and sustainable future across the MENA region,” he said. The pre-seed funding will allow the company to strengthen its team and expand its platform capabilities, ensuring both supply chain efficiency and a reliable customer experience.
Impact on Consumers and Suppliers
The platform addresses multiple challenges simultaneously: it helps suppliers reduce losses from unsold inventory, offers consumers cost-effective options, and supports national sustainability initiatives. ThrowMeNot is contributing to the UAE’s National Food Loss and Waste Initiative (ne’ma), which aims to halve food waste by 2030. By offering technology-driven inventory management and logistics solutions, the company ensures that near-expiry goods are redirected efficiently rather than discarded.
Plans for Regional Expansion
Looking forward, ThrowMeNot intends to scale across the MENA region, building an ecosystem of sustainability-driven products and services. The company plans to extend beyond food, promoting conscious consumption across everyday categories. Its broader vision is to make sustainability practical and profitable, integrating environmental and economic benefits into everyday purchasing habits.
ThrowMeNot exemplifies how technology and entrepreneurship can tackle pressing sustainability challenges while creating value for multiple stakeholders. By connecting suppliers and consumers through a marketplace for near-expiry goods, the platform reduces waste, saves money, and aligns with national and regional goals for sustainable development. With strong investor backing and an ambitious roadmap, ThrowMeNot is poised to make a measurable impact on the UAE’s food waste landscape and beyond.