🌾 Secai Marche’s Recent Funding Success
Farm-to-table startup Secai Marche raised $1.6M, with funding from Mitsui Sumitomo Insurance Venture Capital and loans from The Shizuoka and The Hokkoku Banks. This comes after a $3.5M Series A in August, bringing its total Series A funding to $5.1M. The company plans to grow its operations in Southeast Asia, leveraging this boost to strengthen its infrastructure and services.
🤖 Leveraging AI and Technology
The funds will be used to enhance AI-based demand forecasting, which predicts customer needs with better accuracy. This is vital in the food industry to reduce waste and improve efficiency. Secai Marche also plans to automate last-mile deliveries, which will streamline operations and lower costs. The startup emphasizes technology to ensure fresh food reaches consumers faster and cheaper.
📈 A Growing Presence in Southeast Asia
Since its launch in 2019, Secai Marche has experienced 200% year-over-year growth. Its platform connects farmers with restaurants and retailers, offering 4,000 products, including seafood, fruits, and vegetables. Operating in Kuala Lumpur, the startup aims to increase its social impact by reducing food loss and boosting local farmers' income while expanding export opportunities for Japanese products.
🌐 A Platform for Sustainability
Secai Marche’s direct distribution network ensures freshness and affordability, helping producers sell in small quantities while meeting demand. The company’s approach to reducing food waste aligns with its mission of sustainability. MSIVC’s Yuko Shinohara praised the startup's ability to combine low prices, freshness, and convenience, predicting further growth as it scales across Southeast Asia.
Will Secai Marche reshape farm-to-table markets?
