About
foodforecast

We at foodforecast have a big goal: we want to contribute to more sustainability with the help of artificial intelligence.

Who are we

Foodforecast is a tech company based in Cologne, Germany, that uses artificial intelligence (AI) to reduce food waste. Foodforecast has developed an AI that analyzes historical sales figures of bakery branches and combines them with important influencing factors to create an automated sales forecast for the next day's order. In this way, foodforecast aims to help ensure that less food ends up in the garbage can.

The idea for foodforecast

comes, of course, from our founder Justus Lauten:

My initial idea was to help SMEs become more sustainable with the help of artificial intelligence (AI). I created a Power Point presentation and sent it to numerous small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) via LinkedIn. The response was sobering at first, but euphoric the next moment! Only two companies got back to me, but both described exactly the same problem and came from the same industry! They were two bakeries that complained about too high returns. Thus the idea for werksta.tt (later renamed foodforecast) was born.
- Justus Lauten

We have the vision
to reduce the value of food waste
by 10 billion euros in the next 10 years.

Our team

Justus is the founder of foodforecast. He programmed our artificial intelligence independently. He takes the necessary know-how for this from his studies - he has a master's degree in computer science from RWTH Aachen University. "I don't have the means to build a rocket and fly to Mars. But with foodforecast I can actively make a difference, I can significantly reduce food waste worldwide. That is my incentive."

-Product at the bakery:
Nut corner

Fabian is studying business administration in Mannheim. In his free time, he likes to play soccer and watch Die Höhle der Löwen every now and then. Luckily! Because this is where he followed the appearance of foodforecast (then still werksta.tt) in April and was immediately on fire. "Supporting companies to act sustainably, that inspires me!" Since July, he has been supporting foodforecast with a lot of ambition and business know-how as an intern in the area of marketing and sales.

-product at the bakery:
Pretzel

Lucas comes from New Jersey (USA) and now lives in Bonn. As an engineer, he supports foodforecast in operations management. He is passionate about simple ideas that use current technologies to improve old methods while aligning them for the future. Foodforecast got to know Lucas through the magazine Google's Aufbruch. What else you should know about Lucas? In 2012, he participated in the Red Bull Flight Day in Philadelphia 😊.

-Product at the bakery:
Pretzel corners

Awal is one of the developers from the very beginning. Together with Umair and Justus, he programmed the artificial intelligence. Today, he develops and manages the AI and performs important data analyses. What he likes most about his work is that he can develop something new and useful and is always faced with new challenges. With his Master's in Software Systems Engineering, he is well positioned to do this. Awal comes from the Kingdom of Bahrain and speaks fluent Arabic in addition to English and a little German.

-Product at the bakery:
dark chocolate croissant

Claudia is responsible for business development and marketing at foodforecast. Through her studies in agricultural economics, she knows very well how many and which resources are needed for the production of food. "I think it's great that I can contribute to less food waste at foodforecast". Claudia went to the same school as our founder Justus back then, the Cornelius Burgh Gymnasium in Erkelenz. Now the two former classmates have become colleagues.

-Product at the bakery:
Raisin bun

Steffi brings nearly 10 years of experience in human resources. She was immediately excited to work for a company that wants to minimize unnecessary food waste. She has been supporting foodforecast in HR since September and takes care of all kinds of organizational tasks. She especially enjoys getting a taste of start-up air at foodforecast and gaining new impressions. In her free time she likes to travel - most of all to her favorite city Barcelona.

-Product at the bakery:
American

Umair is one of the developers from the very beginning. Together with Awal and Justus, he programmed the artificial intelligence. With his master's degree in software systems engineering from RWTH Aachen University, he is well positioned to do so. "Our AI solution offers the possibility to fight the global problem of food waste in a very efficient way. That motivates me!" Umair got to know our founder Justus through various work projects at university and is happy that he finally landed at foodforecast. Umair lives in Aachen, Germany, and is originally from Pakistan. That's why he speaks Urdu in addition to English and a little German! He loves to travel and listens to music.

-Product at the bakery:
Butter croissant

Senol supports us in sales and customer support. He already knows our founder Justus from previous joint projects. He has a Bachelor's degree in Sales Engineering and Product Management and is currently doing the corresponding Master's degree at the Ruhr University Bochum. His motivation to work for foodforecast is on the one hand the young, dynamic team and on the other hand the possibility to contribute to less food waste. Senol lives and works in Hattingen. He speaks German, English and Turkish.

-Product at the bakery:
Nut nougat croissant

Damian supports foodforecast as a working student in software development. Currently he is responsible for the installation of the data transfer tool at our customers. Damian has a bachelor's degree in Computer Science and is currently on the home stretch of his master's degree in Software Systems Engineering at RWTH Aachen University. Damian became aware of foodforecast through a job advertisement. He likes working at foodforecast because he finds his projects exciting and appreciates the young team. Originally from Bulgaria, Damian speaks English, German, fluent Bulgarian and a little Russian.

-Product at the bakery:
Chocolate muffin

We are known from...

Die Höhle der Löwen!

Foodforecast (then still under the name Werksta.tt) successfully participated in the start-up show Die Höhle der Löwen in February 2020 (broadcast in April 2021) and received a deal with Carsten Maschmeyer. However, the deal did not materialize in the end because the interests of founder Justus and investor Maschmeyer differed. With the venture capital fund Blue Horizon, foodforecast has another great investor on board today and can already show the first paying customers.