Brightly, a climate-tech company transforming food waste into high-integrity carbon credits to fund food rescue organizations, announced it has closed an oversubscribed $2.3 million seed round. The funding round was led by Schreiber Foods, a leading global food company, with additional support from G-Force, Collaborative Fund, Clear Current Capital, and Windsail Capital.
Brightly’s goal is to combat food waste, food insecurity and climate change by quantifying and monetizing methane emissions avoided when non-profit Food Rescue Organizations (FROs) divert edible food from landfills to feed communities in need. And methane – a potent greenhouse gas with 80 times the warming power of carbon dioxide – is released when food waste decomposes in landfills. Brightly’s innovative approach creates high-quality, food waste-based carbon credits that food producers, manufacturers, and retailers can purchase to offset their emissions.
Schreiber Foods’ strategic funding highlights its dedication to methane reduction and sustainable practices. And Brightly’s AI-based platform calculates methane emissions avoided by food rescue activities using robust datasets, including USDA and EPA resources. And these credits will generate funding for FROs, enabling them to rescue more food, feed more people, and prevent even greater volumes of methane from entering the atmosphere.
The 18-month-old startup tackles two pressing global challenges: hunger and the climate crisis. Food waste is the largest single contributor to U.S. landfills, releasing methane emissions equivalent to those produced by millions of passenger vehicles. At the same time, food insecurity affects tens of millions of Americans, including 14 million children, who face uncertainty about their next meal.
KEY QUOTES:
“Food Rescue Organizations are the unsung heroes in the fight against climate change and hunger. Their work not only feeds those in need but also prevents harmful methane emissions. With visionary partners like Schreiber Foods, we’re creating a financial infrastructure that empowers these organizations to scale their impact and nurture a more sustainable future.”
- Andy Levitt, CEO and Founder of Brightly
“Brightly is tackling two of the world’s most urgent issues—climate change and food insecurity—with an innovative and scalable solution. Their ability to create value for both food rescue organizations and corporate partners is truly impressive, and we’re proud to support their mission.”
- Louis Warner, Partner at G-Force, the pre/seed climate tech investment programme powered by Founders Factory
“As a dairy company, we’re deeply committed to addressing our environmental impact. And Brightly’s approach to reducing food waste and avoiding emissions aligns perfectly with our sustainability goals.”
- Blair Tritt, Vice President, Corporate Ventures & Partnerships at Schreiber Foods
