UAE-based ThrowMeNot raised $550K pre-seed funding to scale its online marketplace, tackling food waste by redistributing near-expiry products at deep discounts.
UAE-based ThrowMeNot, a sustainability-focused online food marketplace, has raised $550,000 in a pre-seed funding round led by Sheikh Ahmed bin Mana bin Khalifa Saeed Al Maktoum.
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Founded in 2025 by Archie Rudyuk, the company aims to tackle food waste by connecting suppliers with consumers to redistribute near-expiry and surplus food products, preventing them from being discarded while recovering value for sellers.
“In the UAE, an estimated 3.27 million tonnes of food are wasted annually,” said Rudyuk, co-founder of ThrowMeNot. “We founded ThrowMeNot to address this challenge by enabling suppliers to monetise near-expiry inventory, while offering consumers affordable, high-quality products.”
The platform operates a digital marketplace that redistributes surplus food at discounts of up to 90% off retail prices, aligning commercial incentives across the supply chain. By doing so, ThrowMeNot seeks to make waste reduction both economically viable for suppliers and convenient for consumers.
With the new capital, the startup plans to expand its team, strengthen delivery and fulfilment capabilities, and scale its platform to support a seamless customer experience. ThrowMeNot is also preparing for regional expansion across MENA, alongside building a broader ecosystem of sustainability-driven products and services.
The company’s mission aligns with the UAE’s national goal of halving food waste by 2030, under the National Food Loss and Waste Initiative (ne’ma).
Why ThrowMeNot Matters to MENA
Food waste is a major economic and sustainability challenge across MENA, where high consumption levels coexist with growing pressure on food security and supply chains. ThrowMeNot’s model highlights how tech-enabled marketplaces can turn sustainability into a viable business, rather than a cost center.
For the UAE, the startup directly supports national priorities such as food security, ESG adoption, and waste reduction, while aligning with the Ne’ma Initiative’s 2030 targets. Regionally, the company’s planned MENA expansion reflects rising investor interest in climate-tech and circular economy startups that address structural inefficiencies in everyday consumption.
As governments push sustainability agendas and consumers become more cost-conscious, platforms like ThrowMeNot could play a meaningful role in reshaping how food is valued, priced, and consumed across the region.
