Berlin-based AI startup Briink has raised €3.85 million in seed funding to bolster its mission of helping Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) teams streamline sustainability data verification through AI.
The funding round, co-led by EquityPitcher Ventures and 13books Capital with participation from existing investors Merantix, seed + speed Ventures, and notable angel investors highlights Briink’s growing importance in addressing the complex demands of ESG data auditing, as stricter regulations like the European Green Deal increase pressure on companies to maintain transparent and verifiable sustainability practices.
Just a few days back, we also reported about how Orderfox joined the unicorn club: a Swiss AI company that hit a €1B valuation. It’s an interesting story too.
What problem is the startup solving
As global regulations surrounding sustainability tighten, ESG teams are tasked with verifying massive amounts of data to ensure companies meet compliance standards. Starting in January 2025, more than 50,000 companies in the EU will need to prove their adherence to these regulations, including their entire supply chains. Traditional data processing methods often struggle to keep up with these demands, leaving room for inaccuracies and inefficiencies.
Briink’s AI-powered solution aims to fill this gap by developing the first AI tools specifically designed for ESG professionals. According to Briink’s CEO Tomas van der Heijden, the challenge of “auditing and verifying vast amounts of data in a landscape still plagued by opacity and greenwashing” is immense. Briink claims its AI achieves over 90% accuracy in ESG data audits, surpassing more generalized AI tools like ChatGPT in this niche domain. This accuracy is critical for ensuring that sustainability data is reliable and can drive informed decisions.
Funding to expand AI capabilities
The newly secured funding will be used to enhance Briink’s AI tools further, enabling sustainability teams to automate the verification and benchmarking of ESG data. This automation helps reduce the time and effort needed for manual audits, allowing ESG professionals to focus on strategic initiatives that drive sustainability. Currently, Briink’s technology is already in use by over 40 enterprise clients, including major corporations, funds, and advisory firms, demonstrating its growing impact in the industry.
Spencer Lake, a partner at 13books Capital, emphasized the importance of AI in this transition to sustainability, stating that Briink provides essential transparency for funds and corporations facing an “onslaught of ESG regulations.” As companies increasingly turn to AI to manage their sustainability data, Briink positions itself as a leading provider of these services, promising more reliable audit trails and compliance support.
How are they tackling greenwashing with AI
One of the most pressing challenges in the ESG field is greenwashing—where companies mislead stakeholders about the environmental benefits of their actions or products. Inaccurate data can erode trust and undermine genuine sustainability efforts. Briink’s AI solution is designed to mitigate this issue by ensuring the consistency and comparability of ESG data across organizations. Van der Heijden explained that by using domain-specific AI, Briink helps “combat greenwashing while accelerating progress toward true sustainability.” This level of accuracy is crucial as stakeholders—investors, regulators, and consumers alike—demand more reliable information on corporate sustainability initiatives.
Navigating regulatory challenges
Briink’s growth aligns with the increasing regulatory scrutiny faced by businesses. The European Green Deal and other global sustainability frameworks require companies to be more transparent in reporting their environmental impacts. As regulations evolve, ESG teams must ensure their data is not only accurate but also auditable. The complexity of this task has created an urgent need for innovative solutions, which is where Briink’s AI agents come into play.
The company’s tools are tailored to help organizations meet compliance standards efficiently while building comprehensive and verifiable audit trails. This will become increasingly important as companies navigate the growing maze of regulatory requirements and work to meet stricter demands for ESG transparency.
What do we think about the startup
Briink’s successful funding round marks a pivotal moment for the startup as it continues to refine its AI-driven approach to ESG data verification. As the world moves toward stricter sustainability standards, the need for accurate, reliable, and actionable data has never been more critical. While challenges like greenwashing persist, Briink’s specialized AI tools could play a crucial role in helping companies meet their ESG commitments more effectively.
By automating the time-consuming process of data verification and auditing, Briink offers a promising solution for companies striving to navigate the complex and evolving landscape of sustainability regulations. However, the long-term success of these AI-driven solutions will depend on their ability to keep pace with regulatory changes and maintain the high levels of accuracy that organizations—and the planet—require.