Ganiga to Unveil Waste-Sorting Robots at TechCrunch Disrupt

While the environmental advantages of recycling are widely recognized, estimates suggest less than 10% of the world's plastic is actually recycled. Ganiga Innovation aims to increase this figure using AI-powered robotic waste bins.

The Italian startup Ganiga developed three products to improve waste and recycling management. The first is a fleet of robotic bins, named Hoooly, which leverage generative AI to identify and sort trash from recyclables. The second is a smart lid that can be retrofitted onto existing bins, offering the same functionality as the larger units.

The company also provides a software platform, enabling businesses to monitor their waste output. The software analyzes this data to offer actionable suggestions for reducing waste generation.

Ganiga will showcase its technology as a participant in this year's Startup Battlefield competition at TechCrunch Disrupt 2025, running from October 27 to 30 in San Francisco.

Nicolas Zeoli, founder and CEO of Ganiga, shared with TechCrunch his long-standing ambition to build a transformative company akin to Facebook or Apple.

He chose to focus on waste management because the challenges are highly visible in his native Italy, and he observed a lack of substantial action addressing the issue.

"We all need to take ownership of this problem," Zeoli stated. "My research revealed stark figures: over 100 million tons of plastic are produced globally each year, yet only 9% is recycled. This is a very concrete and urgent issue."

Join 10k+ tech and VC leaders for growth and connections at Disrupt 2025

Connect with industry leaders from Netflix, Box, a16z, ElevenLabs, Wayve, Hugging Face, Elad Gil, and Vinod Khosla. They are among 250+ experts leading 200+ sessions packed with insights to accelerate startup growth and sharpen your competitive advantage. Don't miss the 20th anniversary of TechCrunch and this opportunity to learn from the top minds in tech. Secure your ticket before the event opens to save up to $444.

Join 10k+ tech and VC leaders for growth and connections at Disrupt 2025

Netflix, Box, a16z, ElevenLabs, Wayve, Hugging Face, Elad Gil, Vinod Khosla — just some of the 250+ heavy hitters leading 200+ sessions designed to deliver the insights that fuel startup growth and sharpen your edge. Don't miss a chance to learn from the top voices in tech. Grab your ticket before doors open to save up to $444.

Zeoli founded Ganiga in 2021, with the first prototype built in 2022. The team focused on developing a smart bin as the solution, Zeoli explained, because it provides a physical point for ensuring proper waste sorting and recycling, while simultaneously generating valuable data for future analysis.

Zeoli also highlighted the high cost of waste management for companies. With many organizations, particularly in Europe, bound by ESG mandates, he hopes Hoooly will assist them in better tracking waste production, ultimately helping to reduce both waste volume and associated expenses.

Ganiga began commercial sales of its bins in 2024 and has already deployed over 120 units to clients such as Google and several international airports, including those in Bologna, Venice, and Madrid.

The company generated $500,000 in revenue in 2024 and has reached $750,000 in the first nine months of 2025 alone.

Ganiga has secured $1.5 million in pre-seed funding from investors including clean tech VC firm NextSTEP and Next Energy Capital. The startup is now preparing to raise a $3 million seed round.

The company is set to launch its newest product, Hooolyfood, in November. This software uses camera imagery to accurately quantify food waste. Zeoli indicated that, based on data collected from their current bins and software, Ganiga plans to expand further into software-centric solutions in the future.

While Ganiga has primarily targeted the European market so far, Zeoli expressed a desire to expand into the U.S. and is considering relocating the company headquarters there in 2026.

"Ganiga is the first startup worldwide to fully equip an airport with smart bins," Zeoli said. "This milestone is significant because we are not just a prototype; we are a market-ready product actively serving customers."

To learn directly from Ganiga, see dozens of additional pitches, attend valuable workshops, and forge connections that deliver business results, click here for more information on this year's Disrupt, taking place October 27 to 29 in San Francisco.