In this exclusive feature with CanadianSME Small Business Magazine, Sid Jain, Founder of HungerLink, shares the vision behind Rescuethon, a student-led initiative tackling college food insecurity while reducing food waste. Built on the powerful philosophy of “Food Rescue, by Students, for Students,” Rescuethon empowers students to take control of the challenge with “Self-Esteem, Not Stigma” and “Control, Not Charity.”
Through HungerLink’s technology-driven platform, Rescuethon connects students, volunteers, food donors, and college food banks to rescue surplus food and deliver it where it is needed most. With features including real-time food rescue tracking, volunteer management, task scheduling, food safety reporting, and AI-powered volunteer training, Rescuethon is turning food waste into meaningful support while inspiring the next generation of student leaders.
Why did you start Hungerlink
Our journey began in 2021 during the height of the pandemic. I was inspired when the World Food Programme won the Nobel Peace. Little did I know, hunger and food waste are ‘next-door’ realities, not some far-away problem. I became obsessed with a single question: how can we leverage technology to completely transform this space? And here we are today, turing that question into answer, one step at a time.
What problem does Hungerlink solve
First, we tackle the structural optimization issue between food businesses and community agencies. Surplus is a permanent byproduct of human agriculture; as long as we grow food, surplus will exist. The real issue is that our current infrastructure treats this surplus as a liability and lets it become waste.
Second, we solve a massive execution friction. Food businesses view managing surplus as a logistical headache, while community agencies struggle with an unpredictable supply.
Can you share one Hungerlink success story
While we are currently pre-revenue, our greatest success story so far is the definitive market validation we achieved through our academic research partnerships. We worked with college students in the GTA to analyze local food data, and the results were immediate. Not only did the data expose the staggering scale of the issue, but the experience triggered the exact cultural shift we aim to scale globally.
The impact was so profound that these students didn’t just hand in a report – they immediately came forward to build a grassroots volunteer network to support our ecosystem. For an early-stage startup, this is a massive win. It proves that our vision resonates deeply enough to inspire action.
How can technology help reduce food waste
Food waste occurs when surplus supply fails to connect with demand before the food spoils. Therefore, the systemic solution to food waste requires building hyper-connected ecosystems among all organizations that handle food. Our technology manifests this hyper-connectedness by creating an “Internet for Food.”
What is one way businesses can help fight hunger
The conventional approach of donating to charities is good but in today’s economically challenging environment, this can not scale.
Businesses must innovate across the entire vertical – from processes to products to partnerships – such that preventing surplus food from going to waste adds to the bottom line.
Because this problem is so difficult to solve, the businesses often default to sending surplus food straight to landfills. HungerLink’s technology aims to change that by redefining how surplus food is managed.
Disclaimer:
The views and opinions expressed in this interview are those of the interviewee and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of CanadianSME Small Business Magazine. Our platform is dedicated to fostering dialogue and sharing insights that inspire and empower small and medium-sized businesses across Canada.
