Cornell-born startup Elm AI secures funding to scale its AI-powered platform helping global brands improve supply chain sustainability and risk management.
Elm AI, a startup spun out of Cornell University, has raised $2 million in an oversubscribed seed funding round. The company uses artificial intelligence to transform supply chain sustainability and compliance, aiming to reduce the cost and complexity of managing supplier performance.
Tackling Complex Global Supply Chain Challenges
As businesses face rising compliance costs and stricter regulations, Elm AI offers a solution through its AI-powered platform. The software automates the analysis of supplier documentation—such as questionnaires, certifications, and audit reports—turning hours of manual work into instant, data-driven insights.
The platform already manages data from thousands of factories worldwide, helping businesses assess supplier risk, track performance, and stay compliant with evolving global standards.
From Cornell Lab to Industry Adoption
Founded in 2023 by Advait Raykar, Aparajita Thakker, Ken He, and Eesha Khanna, Elm AI was incubated at Cornell University and supported by the Entrepreneurs Roundtable Accelerator.
Clients include both mid-sized apparel brands and large multinational corporations. One of its early adopters, sustainable fashion brand Reformation, uses Elm AI to streamline its responsible sourcing efforts.
“Elm AI has greatly improved our responsible sourcing processes,” said Carrie Freiman Parry, Senior Director of Sustainability at Reformation. “By streamlining administrative tasks, it enables us to focus on developing programs that foster safe, healthy, and equitable working conditions.”
Investors Back Elm AI’s Vision
The $2 million seed round was led by Beta Boom Fund and Working Capital Fund. Other investors include Boro Capital Partners, Very Serious Ventures, Gorges Ventures, The Bond Collective, and Textbook Ventures.
James McMichael, founder of ELEVATE Global and Mosaic RSR, emphasized the impact of Elm AI’s mission:
“Their approach shows how AI can drive real progress in labor rights and sustainability throughout global supply chains.”
What Elm AI Offers
Elm AI’s platform brings efficiency and transparency to global supply chain operations by:
- Automating compliance workflows
- Analyzing supplier documentation at scale
- Providing real-time insights into sustainability performance and risks
By replacing time-consuming manual reviews with AI-powered tools, Elm AI empowers procurement, ESG, and compliance teams to manage supplier data more effectively and respond to emerging risks in real time.
What’s Next for Elm AI?
With fresh funding in hand, Elm AI plans to accelerate onboarding for customers on its waitlist and deepen its investment in product development. Its long-term goal is to become the go-to platform for supplier sustainability and performance management at scale.
