Epoch Raises $4.25 Million to Launch AI-Powered EUDR Compliance Platform

London-based supply chain intelligence startup Epoch has raised $4.25 million in seed funding to expand its AI-powered supply chain compliance technology, bringing its total funding to $6.26 million. Announced on 26 October 2026, the round was led by Burnt Island Ventures and Sand River. Alongside the investment, Epoch launched a self-service platform designed to help small and medium-sized businesses (SMEs) meet regulatory requirements, beginning with the EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR). The funding will support product development, infrastructure expansion and commercial operations.

Epoch's platform uses geospatial artificial intelligence and automated research to trace raw materials to their origins, including farms, plantations and mines. Rather than relying entirely on supplier questionnaires, the technology analyses existing supplier information, identifies production locations and assesses potential deforestation and legality risks. Businesses can begin with basic supplier records and use AI assistants, including ChatGPT, Claude and Gemini, to organise information and investigate supply chain risks. The platform then prepares evidence-backed due diligence statements for submission to the EU's TRACES information system. Jinal Surti, Co-founder and CEO of Epoch, said, "We've built a compliance solution for the AI era."

 

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The launch comes ahead of the EUDR's implementation deadlines, with requirements applying to large and medium-sized operators from 30 December 2026 and most micro and small operators from 30 June 2027. The regulation covers commodities including cattle, cocoa, coffee, oil palm, rubber, soya and wood, requiring relevant businesses to demonstrate that products are deforestation-free and legally produced. Smaller businesses can face difficulties obtaining production-site coordinates and other evidence from international suppliers. Epoch aims to address these challenges by generating reusable supply chain intelligence that can support multiple regulatory requirements. However, AI-generated assessments must still be checked for accuracy, and companies remain responsible for meeting their legal obligations.

Epoch has also established partnerships with Altana, Assent, Resilinc and 3E, enabling its first-mile intelligence to be accessed through existing enterprise supply chain platforms. Together, these partnerships provide a potential distribution network reaching more than 30,000 enterprises, although the figure does not represent confirmed active Epoch customers. The company reports screening more than 12,000 suppliers for enterprise clients over the past six months. By integrating geospatial intelligence into existing compliance workflows, Epoch aims to help businesses identify environmental risks, prioritise supplier engagement and improve traceability across complex supply chains.

The investment will also support Epoch's commercial expansion across North America and Europe. Christine Boyle, Partner at Burnt Island Ventures, has joined the company's board, while Epoch has strengthened its leadership team across partnerships and regional sales. Boyle said, "The Epoch platform leverages AI, earth observation data and proprietary models to enable visibility into risk mitigation, and compliance." The development reflects growing investor interest in technologies that help businesses comply with deforestation and supply chain transparency requirements. Epoch's longer-term success will depend on the accuracy of its origin data, successful integration with partner platforms and adoption among businesses preparing for environmental regulations.

 

Source: Epoch