Helios AI Raises $3M for Food Supply Chain Intelligence

Helios AI, a specialist in agricultural commodity intelligence, has successfully closed a $3 million strategic investment round. The funding was led by W23 Global, the venture capital arm backed by a consortium of prominent international grocers including Tesco, Ahold Delhaize, Woolworths Group, Shoprite Group, and Empire Company Limited. This infusion of capital is earmarked for enhancing the company's predictive analytics capabilities, particularly in anticipating disruptions within global food systems.

The strategic alignment with W23 Global provides Helios AI with direct access to major retail players grappling with the increasing volatility of food sourcing. The company, founded in 2022, leverages artificial intelligence to monitor over 80 commodities across more than 100 nations. Its platform offers critical insights into climate risk, price fluctuations, and real-time supply chain disturbances, serving food producers, procurement specialists, and traders aiming to mitigate risks to food availability and pricing.

Coinciding with the funding announcement, Helios AI unveiled its groundbreaking Hunger Exposure Index. This novel metric quantifies the vulnerability of 47 countries to future climate events, trade disruptions, and geopolitical instability. The index assigns scores based on four weighted factors: climate risk, exposure to fertilizer and energy costs, foreign exchange limitations, and reliance on cereal imports. Countries scoring 70 or above are flagged as facing 'Critical' exposure, while those between 50 and 69 are deemed at 'Elevated' risk, providing a crucial early warning system for governments and humanitarian organizations.

This latest funding follows Helios AI's previous success, including a $4.7 million seed round in September 2025, which was spearheaded by S&P Global Ventures and Collide Capital. Earlier backing also came from Supply Change Capital. The company's expansion efforts are further bolstered by the addition of Helga Flores Trejo as Senior Advisor to the CEO, bringing significant expertise in geopolitics, food security, and climate finance to guide its engagement with global stakeholders.

The market for supply chain intelligence, particularly concerning climate-related risks, is experiencing heightened interest. Retailers and their investment arms are actively seeking technologies that can quantify and predict these complex challenges. Helios AI's platform, which already covers an extensive range of agricultural commodities and price points, is well-positioned to address this growing demand. The company's ability to integrate production risks with a nation's capacity to import food, as articulated by CEO Francisco Martin-Rayo, addresses a critical gap in understanding true food security vulnerabilities.

The global food and agriculture sector, valued in the trillions of dollars, faces unprecedented pressures from climate change and geopolitical tensions. Tools like the Hunger Exposure Index are becoming indispensable for strategic planning, risk management, and ensuring long-term food stability. Helios AI's strategic partnerships and innovative data products underscore the increasing importance of AI-driven insights in navigating these complex global challenges.