Ensuring business gifts match ESG goals
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This female-founded company makes it easy for businesses to source sustainable gifts
Spotted: Everyone likes to receive gifts, but choosing the perfect gift is difficult. Now, Needi, a female-led company, is using AI coupled with human expertise to streamline the sourcing of unique, sustainable corporate gifts and branded merchandise.
Needi has developed a gift matching algorithm to ensure corporate gifts align with a company’s ESG and sustainability goals. Clients include KPMG, Microsoft, Spotify and Virgin. The startup focuses on sourcing branded merchandise from local independent businesses, generating around £1 million in sales so far for small companies and helping them thrive in markets dominated by large corporations.
The startup was founded in 2021 by Louise Doyle and Steph Scholes, who were both balancing fundraising with motherhood, giving them a unique window into how companies can use gift-giving to boost employee morale and wellbeing and client thank yous. Although targeting companies, Needi is also useful for individuals looking for the perfect present.
Users answer a few questions about the recipient and, then, the AI-powered algorithm comes up with a selection of meaningful gift ideas from Needi’s network of small businesses. Users choose a gift from a shortlist and Needi does the wrapping and mailing.
In June 2024, Needi secured £895,000 in seed funding from investors including Clarendon Fund Managers and Techstart Ventures. A new round, in late 2024, raised an additional £1.4 million from initial investors as well as angel investors, including EY partners and senior executives from tech firms.
Written By: Lisa Magloff