venturemic · 2025-04-30 · 28 min
How do you cut food waste, shelf by shelf, byte by byte? In this episode, we talk with Sid , co-founder of Skonelabs , a startup tackling one of the most overlooked problems in our food systems: spoilage and waste. Sid’s journey took him from a PhD in nanotechnology to research in green energy, innovation consulting, and finally, building a startup with his co-founder Nishit . Their startup uses smart sensors and AI agents to track freshness, monitor storage conditions, and extend shelf life in the supply chain - starting with food banks and scaling into major retailers. What’s inside: The real story behind the name "Skonelabs" (spoiler: it involves blueberry scones and a clever €5 domain hack) How one conversation at a sushi restaurant inspired their pivot Why “flipping the pyramid” changed how Sid talks to customers - and what every founder should know about communication What it's really like facing 100 rejections before your first “yes” Big dreams: cutting 10-20% of global food waste through transparency “Not everyone will take a bet on a half-baked product. But someone will. You just have to knock enough doors.” Tune in to hear a story that’s as practical as it is inspiring.
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