Industrial Organic

Industrial Organic is positioned at the intersection of waste management and biotechnology, focusing on the transformation of food waste into valuable organic chemicals and materials. The company was co-founded by CEO Amanda Weeks and Brett Van Aalsburg. Weeks's background as a market researcher revealed a growing trend in urban food waste diversion, coupled with a significant lack of infrastructure for organic recycling. This insight, combined with her experience growing up near the Fresh Kills landfill, fueled the company's mission.

The company's journey began in a garage-like setting in Brooklyn, evolving from what an early investor described as a "science project." After participating in the URBAN-X accelerator, Industrial Organic secured its initial seed funding in October 2016. This capital enabled the team to refine its process, develop end products, and establish a demonstration facility in Newark, New Jersey. A subsequent funding round in late 2017 brought their total seed investment to $1.3 million, led by Brooklyn Bridge Ventures, which facilitated the build-out of their first commercial facility.

Industrial Organic's core business involves providing waste management infrastructure for cities while creating a new revenue stream from the waste itself. The company employs a proprietary process analogous to brewing or winemaking, where food waste is fermented in an enclosed tank. This rapid biological digestion sterilizes the organic matter and extracts its high moisture content. The process yields multiple valuable byproducts. The reclaimed water, approximately 200 gallons per ton of waste, is treated for reuse, including for energy generation. The remaining solids are processed into microbially active organic fertilizers and other ingredients for products like cleaners. By handling food waste in an enclosed, indoor setting, the technology is designed to operate without the methane emissions and significant odors associated with traditional composting or landfill decomposition.

The business model targets clients with waste management needs, offering a competitively priced alternative to landfilling. Revenue is generated both from waste processing fees and the sale of the derived organic products to agricultural and industrial markets.

Keywords: food waste recycling, organic waste valorization, waste-to-value, circular economy, urban waste management, organic fertilizer, bio-chemicals, sustainable materials, food waste fermentation, waste infrastructure, Amanda Weeks, Brett Van Aalsburg, cleantech, biotech, anaerobic digestion, resource recovery, sustainable agriculture, environmental technology, industrial biotechnology, waste processing solutions