The construction sector is responsible for generating over one-third of all waste annually within the European Union, a number that significantly eclipses other sources of waste. Across the Atlantic, the volume of rubbish produced by this industry in the U.S. is more than twice the annual household waste generated.
With the mission to curtail construction waste, Sensorita is stepping in to solve what its co-founder and CEO, Ulrikke Lien, identifies as the core issue: inadequate and unreliable data. Lien shared with TechCrunch how challenges in tracking the volume and location of waste bins on construction sites hinder efficient waste management, stressing the pivotal role of accurate data in the process.
“From the outset, the lack of comprehensive data within the industry was glaringly obvious and remains so,” Lien commented. “In comparison to other industries, the accepted standard for data quality and visibility in construction is remarkably low, representing a widespread issue.”
Sensorita, headquartered in Oslo, embeds its sensors into construction waste containers to monitor and report on their location and fullness using radar and machine learning, creating a digital replicate of each container in the process. This innovation allows waste management companies to leverage Sensorita’s platform for timely and informed decision-making regarding waste collection and management.
“Traditionally, monitoring of waste levels is done through visual inspections, which is not only time-consuming but also highly inefficient,” Lien explained. “Our technology offers waste management entities a means to significantly optimize operations, saving both time and money.”
The inception of Sensorita dates back to 2020 when Lien, amidst her engineering studies at the Norwegian University of Life Sciences, aimed to devise a technology solution for the municipal waste sector. Soon realizing the competitive landscape and challenges within household waste management, the focus shifted towards the construction debris sector — a domain where Sensorita has been making significant strides. Initiating a partnership and securing early investment from Ragn-Sells, a waste management enterprise, Sensorita quickly went from concept to launching its pilot project in February 2022, and now collaborates with three additional clients.
Lien emphasized the consistent confirmation of the company’s value proposition, stating, “Since the beginning, every new engagement with waste management firms reveals a common thread of challenges associated with information scarcity.”
Emerging from stealth, Sensorita announced securing $3.25 million in venture capital, with the round led by Brick and Mortar Ventures and including contributions from telecommunications heavyweight Telenor, amassing a total of $6 million in funding, a significant portion of which originated from grants.
A fortuitous encounter between Lien and Brick and Mortar Ventures partner Guillaume Bazouin at Finland’s Slush conference in 2022 paved the way for this investment. Bazouin, drawn by Sensorita’s potential to tackle the immense waste management issues in construction, became a staunch advocate for the firm’s technological solutions.
“The problem of construction waste management is escalating to critical levels, primarily due to stringent regulations across Europe that demand efficient tracking and handling,” Bazouin noted.
Looking ahead, Lien is determined to expand Sensorita’s reach beyond Norway, further evolving the technology to distinguish different materials within the waste bins and potentially develop a virtual assistant to revolutionize waste management logistics.
“Identifying areas for improvement is challenging without a clear understanding of the current state of affairs,” expressed Lien, highlighting the innovative leap Sensorita represents for the industry.
The editorial content has been updated to more accurately reflect Sensorita’s evolving partnership with Ragn-Sells.
Compiled by Techarena.au.
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