Augeas builds smart, incentive-driven waste collection containers that turn unrecycled aluminum cans into revenue for local entrepreneurs. The company's first product, the Cuboid, uses QR-code access, AI-powered sorting verification, and real-time fill monitoring to make first-mile waste collection efficient and profitable in underserved regions. Early-bird pre-orders are open for delivery in October 2026.
Funding
Funding not disclosed
Founders
Product
Problem
Waste collection services do not reach more than a third of the world's population, leaving vast amounts of recyclable materials—particularly aluminum cans—to end up in landfills or informal dumps. This gap in first-mile infrastructure prevents communities from capturing the economic value of their waste and exacerbates environmental pollution.
Solution
Augeas provides a complete first-mile waste management solution built around smart collection containers that incentivize recycling at the source. The company's flagship product, the Cuboid, is a 1.5 m³ smart container that rewards users with money through the Augeas app each time they deposit cans, using QR-code authentication to open the unit. Inside, AI-powered cameras verify that the correct material is inserted, ensuring low contamination and high-quality recyclables. When full, the container's contents are sold to aluminum recyclers, with a full unit generating up to €1,000 in material value. Augeas also offers live monitoring of fill-levels, scrap volumes, and contamination rates, enabling efficient collection routes and transparent material tracking. The company deploys regionally once 20 containers are ordered in a single area, providing local support, logistics, and community management to ensure long-term operational success.
Target Audience
Primary customers are local entrepreneurs and small business operators in underserved regions—particularly in Senegal, Bangladesh, and similar markets—who want to launch profitable waste collection businesses with low upfront investment and strong environmental impact.
Features
- QR-code-based access control that links each deposit to a user's Augeas app account for instant incentive payouts
- AI-powered internal cameras that verify material type and quality at the point of deposit, minimizing contamination
- Real-time fill-level and contamination monitoring for optimized collection logistics and material quality assurance
- 1.5 m³ capacity cuboid design optimized for high-volume aluminum can collection in high-footfall public areas
- Full hardware warranty and 100% refund guarantee if delivery does not occur by December 1, 2026
- Regional deployment model that activates local support, logistics, and community management once 20 units are ordered in a single region