Leiria-based startup Brainr has raised €11 million in a record-breaking seed round to expand its smart manufacturing software beyond meat production, move into new food sectors, and enter major markets such as the United States and Brazil, ECO reports.
Founded in 2023, Brainr has quickly become a central player in Portugal’s food industry. Its software already manages more than a quarter of the country’s meat production, helping companies digitize operations, reduce errors, and increase output.
At Avisabor in Estarreja, production scaled from 40,000 to 190,000 chickens per day while shipping errors fell by more than 95%. Campoaves in Oliveira de Frades eliminated nearly all paper and Excel records, cutting time spent on manual data entry by more than 92%. In Viseu, Comave digitized its production to achieve IFS certification in record time with 100% digital traceability.
The round is led by C2 Capital Partners and structured so the funds will be released gradually as milestones are met. “The contracted value is the €11 million that will be paid as certain milestones are reached. It is a very common practice,” said CEO and co-founder Paulo Gaspar, who launched the company with COO Rui Batista and CTO Ricardo Granada.
For C2, Brainr is finally delivering the type of smart manufacturing solutions that the food sector has long lacked.
“With a team that combines business experience and in-depth knowledge of the sector, Brainr seeks to simplify the day-to-day life of operators in factories. The technology it uses fulfills what smart manufacturing has been promising for years, but which the food industry had not yet been able to materialize. All so that teams can focus on producing rigorously and efficiently,” said Duarte Diniz, investment senior analyst at C2 Capital Partners.
The size of the raise marks a milestone for Portugal’s startup ecosystem. Until now, agritech Shimejito held the record with a €10.5 million seed round. Brainr’s €11 million deal sets a new benchmark for early-stage investment in the country.
Looking ahead, the company aims to expand into new verticals such as fish, bakery, confectionery, beverages, and other food products, while also growing geographically.
“With no concrete plans yet to open new offices, with this round what we intend is to accelerate the conquest of market share in the meat vertical, and start exploring new verticals. All this starting with the geographies where we are already – Europe and Africa – and later expanding to the USA and Brazil, which are [among] the largest food producers in the world,” Gaspar told ECO.
To support this expansion, Brainr plans to strengthen its workforce. The company currently employs 21 people but intends to add around 75 new hires by the end of 2026, with roles across engineering, product, sales, marketing, and customer success.
Featured image: The Brainr team, now 21 people strong, is set to grow by around 75 new hires as the startup expands into new food sectors and prepares for international markets. (Photo courtesy of Brainr)
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