Denmark-based Kanpla raises €2.2M from Amsterdam’s henQ; looks to expand into the Netherlands

Aarhus, Denmark-based Kanpla, a B2B SaaS solution company that works to streamline operations and reduce food waste in canteens and kitchens, announced on Thursday, January 26, that it has raised €2.2M in a Seed round of funding.

Kanpla says it will use the funds to accelerate its expansion into the Netherlands, Norway, and the UK with an aim to become the leading digital solution for canteens globally.

The investor

The investment came from Amsterdam-based venture capital fund henQ. The firm invests from pre-Seed to Series A in B2B software startups across Europe, and writes tickets between €500K to €5M.

Jan Andriessen, henQ Partner, says, “We believe that Kanpla, with their impressive traction and innovative approach to digitalising an often overlooked industry, has what it takes to be a game-changer in the canteen industry.”

“At first, the canteen industry can seem obscure, but it’s a big market with huge potential. Many B2B software products have blossomed in seemingly non-obvious markets. Zendesk, one of Denmark’s greatest tech businesses, was founded well before customer success software became a well-defined term. Kanpla can be the same, and that’s what makes them the type of B2B business we’re excited to support,” adds Andriessen.

Peter Bæch, co-founder of Kanpla, says, “We’re incredibly excited to have our existing investors keep advising us on our growth journey and now also henQ. Our know-how and data combined with their experience are going to be crucial in order for us to successfully expand into new markets.”

Youngest founder team to raise Seed funding

According to a statement from Kanpla, 153 million tonnes of food are wasted annually in the EU. For locations such as canteens, which are already struggling due to significant price increases in food and electricity, that is a massive waste of resources.

In order to maximise the use of their resources, canteens must have thorough awareness of the quantities and varieties of food they offer. And this is where Kanpla looks to make a difference.

Kanpla is a B2B software company that offers an ordering system for kitchens with recurring customers, such as canteens, lunch providers, etc. The company claims to help kitchens reduce food waste by providing control and visibility across orders and products.

The founders of Kanpla, 21-year-old entrepreneurs Peter Bæch and Jonas Gøttler, are some of the youngest ever in Europe to raise €2M or more.

Peter Bæch says, “With data, many canteens can actually optimise their businesses as it allows them to make informed decisions about the types and amounts of food they serve, ultimately saving them money and resources. At Kanpla, we are dedicated to helping canteens succeed in an increasingly challenging market.”

In 2022, the Kanpla platform was used by 92,000 users and nearly 1,500 canteens (among other businesses). The data attracted the attention of the Dutch venture capital fund henQ, which is now a member of the Kanpla investment group.