Uncertainties in harvesting crops and consumer demand often make matching the supply and demand of fresh products and volumes difficult. This can lead to food and operational waste, shortages, and pricing issues. Merqato developed a software solution for predicting and matching fruit and vegetable volumes and prices. Their software analyzes extensive data sets to match demand and supply at the wholesaler, offering forecasts for up to six weeks.
Finding the right co-founders
After eleven years at Philips and a successfully exited fintech company, Jan-Willem Snoeker felt prepared for the next step in his career. Through Antler, a company that connects co-founders, he met Claire Bénard and Thomas Beelaerts. Even though they were strangers, they shared a common goal: to create a company that could make a real impact by reducing food waste. In March 2023, they teamed up to take on this challenge.
I joined Merqato because I want to commit myself to sustainability and have a faster direct impact.
Validation and market needs
At first, they aimed to create a marketplace connecting the oversupply of fresh produce with shortages. They validated their idea by interviewing more than one hundred experts. Through this process, they realized that a marketplace approach does not address the underlying cause of fruit and vegetable waste. Instead, they found that to solve the root cause of waste, more accurate insights into the volume of produce pricing are needed to align supply and demand accurately.
Why is that? Most firms have their own methods to predict this, based on historical data, experience, harvesting and sales expectations, and gut feeling. This provides valuable insights, but Merqato aims to provide even greater accuracy. They achieve this by analyzing as much data as possible gathered from wholesalers, who usually have valuable information from 200 to 300 growers. With their software, Merqato aims to improve efficiency in the supply chain, optimal pricing ranges, and, ultimately, reduce food waste. The forecast enables wholesalers to better match supply and demand for vegetables and fruit.
Their journey thus far
In April 2024, Merqato joined the YES!Delft Accelerator program. The Accelerator program has assisted them with team development, HR, and operational matters, among other valuable lessons.
The YES!Delft Accelerator program has particularly benefited our product, team, and funding. For example, to even better understand each other on a deeper level and strengthen our founding team.
Merqato is already generating revenue from its initial customers in Spain, Germany, the Netherlands, and the United Kingdom. Also, they have been funded through a convertible loan and subsidies. Recently, they also received a prize from the Dutch Ministry of Agriculture. Over the next six months, Merqato intends to secure additional funding, expand its team, further develop its product, and acquire more customers.
Jan Willem Snoeker, Thomas Beelaerts and Claire Bénard – founders Merqato, Amsterdam.
I am proud of our team. As co-founders, we didn’t know each other at first, but we have continued to grow together. You can feel our energy and dedication to our mission to reduce food waste.
Your dream can become a reality too!
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