Berlin-based Briink, an AI startup focused on supporting ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) and sustainability teams, has raised €3.85M in a seed round of funding.
EquityPitcher Ventures and 13books Capital co-led the investment, which was further supported by existing investors, including Merantix, seed + speed Ventures, and notable angel investors.
Spencer Lake, Partner at 13books Capital, says, “As we transition to a more sustainable future, there is no question that we need constructively creative AI platforms like Briink, to create tangible impact.”
“For funds, corporates and their supply chains, Briink is the go-to solution providing transparency and ensuring they remain compliant with the onslaught of ESG regulations.”
Lake adds, “We’re very pleased to join Sam, Tomas and the team as they continue to drive meaningful impact on this mission-critical journey.”
Capital utilisation
Briink is developing AI agents specifically designed for ESG professionals, enabling faster and more accurate data processing. These AI tools aim to assist teams in collecting, verifying, and auditing vast amounts of ESG data, an increasingly challenging task as regulations tighten.
The funding will enable Briink to enhance its AI technology, allowing human experts to focus on strategic, high-impact initiatives for a successful climate transition.
Addressing the need for accurate ESG data
According to a statement from Briink, upcoming regulations such as the European Green Deal require companies to meet stricter transparency standards, and ESG teams are facing mounting pressure to handle large volumes of data.
By January 2025, over 50,000 companies in the EU will need to ensure compliance for themselves and their supply chains. Traditional data processing methods are struggling to keep up, leading to a need for more advanced solutions. This is where Briink steps in.
Based at the AI Campus in Berlin, Briink develops AI-driven solutions for ESG and sustainability teams, automating the audit and verification of ESG data to ensure transparency and regulatory compliance.
Tomas van der Heijden, co-founder and CEO of Briink, says, “ESG professionals face a critical challenge: auditing and verifying vast amounts of data in a landscape still plagued by opacity and greenwashing. High-quality, audited ESG data is essential to the climate transition, but manual processes and fragmented standards often compromise accuracy.”
“In a field where precision is key to maintaining trust, Briink’s domain-specific AI achieves over 90 per cent accuracy on ESG data—far exceeding generic solutions like ChatGPT. This ensures reliable insights, helping organisations combat greenwashing while accelerating progress toward true sustainability.”
The company serves over 40 enterprise clients, including major corporations and advisory firms, by using domain-specific AI and LLMs to enhance ESG data benchmarking and verification.
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