Amsterdam’s Merqato raises funds to empower fruit and vegetable companies with its AI platform

Amsterdam-based Merqato, an AI-powered platform to optimise operational planning, has secured fresh funding from Smarter Ventures.

Prior to this funding round, in October 2023, the Amsterdam-based company received a €350K convertible loan from Innovatiefonds Noord-Holland.

Match supply and demand with AI-powered forecasts

Founded in 2023 by Claire Bénard, Jan-Willem Snoeker, and Thomas Beelaerts, Merqato is focused on optimising the value chain for fresh fruits and vegetables using predictive algorithms.

The platform leverages AI-powered forecasts to match supply and demand, helping companies in the fresh produce sector reduce waste by 10 per cent. 

By integrating with existing IT systems, Merqato provides accurate volume and price predictions, enabling businesses to navigate challenges such as adverse weather conditions and supply chain disruptions more efficiently.

Merqato’s platform works by combining a company’s operational data with external data sources to provide enhanced insights. It integrates forecasts and order data with factors such as weather, energy prices, retail promotions, and market trends. 

By aggregating this information, Merqato identifies key variables affecting business performance, helping companies make more informed decisions. 

The platform ensures data privacy, using the information solely to generate actionable insights. For example, it can predict how temperature changes may influence strawberry sales or how increased sunlight affects tomato production.

Capital utilisation

The fresh capital will support Merqato’s ongoing efforts to innovate and expand its platform, helping European fruit and vegetable companies reduce costs and food waste. 

The company works with partners in the Netherlands, Germany, Spain, the United Kingdom, Italy, and Peru, and views this partnership with Smarter Ventures as a key step in its growth and development trajectory.