Relocalize – the developer of the world’s first autonomous micro-factory for the food & beverage industry – recently announced that it has raised US$2.5 million in the initial closing of a US$3.5 million seed round led by i4 Capital and Waterpoint Lane. And the proceeds from the round will be used to prepare Relocalize’s autonomous production platform for scaling and to solidify its leadership position as the industry’s first mover in distributed hyper-local food & beverage manufacturing. Also joining this funding round is RGS Ice, LLC, a California-based private equity investor focused on investments in retail and technology led by managing partner David J. Moore.
The new seed investors bring valuable expertise in cleantech, advanced manufacturing, and deep tech. i4 Capital is now committed to building a prosperous and responsible future by championing innovative, disruptive technologies. And Waterpoint Lane focuses on driving sustainability, social, and economic outcomes, shaping a positive future for our planet.
In March 2023, Southeastern Grocers announced a partnership with Relocalize to pilot an autonomous micro-factory, known as RELO at their Jacksonville distribution center. And the pilot RELO is successfully producing the world’s first hyperlocal, certified plastic-negative packaged ice, on-demand for local supermarkets in Florida. Building on this achievement, Relocalize plans to install multiple new systems for further impacting climate change mitigation.
KEY QUOTES:
“This is a big step towards a truck-free future for our food system. It reflects both the urgent need to decarbonize food production and the high market demand for sustainable and affordable products.”
- D. Wayne McIntyre, Co-founder and CEO of Relocalize
“We believe that Relocalize’s micro-manufacturing technology will help reinvent the way consumers access quality food and beverage products. The world’s first hyper-local micro-factory for packaged ice is just the beginning; numerous applications will leverage their disruptive manufacturing platform, directly cutting GHG emissions.”
- Tim Tokarsky, Founder & Managing Partner of i4 Capital
“We are excited to partner with the Relocalize team to advance our shared vision for a more sustainable food system. By harnessing the potential of Relocalize’s technology, it becomes possible to both decarbonize and decentralize key segments of the food and beverage supply chain. Their approach is not just innovative; it is transformative, setting a new standard for the industry.”
- Ben Gibbons, Founder & Managing Partner of Waterpoint Lane
