From Manchester to Silicon Valley

Ignas Grazys arrived in Manchester from Lithuania aged 18 with two suitcases and a drive to make a difference. Less than ten years after graduating he is building climate tech ventures in Silicon Valley and taking on global environmental challenges.

Ignas had never flown before when he travelled from Vilnius to study Computer Science and Mathematics at The University of Manchester – a journey that would eventually lead him to co-founding a climate tech company in Silicon Valley, USA.  

A drive to make a difference

Coming from a humble background with little financial support, Ignas balanced two part-time jobs alongside monthly hackathons, a semi-professional judo career and of course, his studies.

That work ethic would later define his career. At just 25 years old, Ignas sold his first technology company, Homely Energy, for a seven-figure sum before co-founding FoodWare, a company reimagining the future of single-use packaging – one of the biggest causes of climate change and environmental pollution. While compostable packaging is often seen as a sustainable alternative, it is still designed to be used once and discarded. FoodWare offers a different approach, allowing customers to borrow reusable takeaway containers through a QR code system and return them to participating venues for cleaning and reuse, reducing both waste and carbon emissions. 

The Manchester effect

Although there is no direct one-word translation for ‘sustainability’ in Lithuanian, Ignas says his time at Manchester helped him understand how closely those values mirrored his own ambitions.

“I realised it’s what I’ve been doing my whole life, and it was really nice to have my values align with the University.

“It was at the University where I first learnt about the importance of environmental accountability and leading by example – something that strongly aligned with my personal values and that I still carry to this day as a founder in climate tech."

His first start-up, Homely Energy, was founded in Manchester and focused on smart heating electrification to reduce pressure on the National Grid while increasing the use of renewable energy and reducing household bills.

“I was inspired by the people that came through the University before me and made a difference in their communities, built businesses, made movements and actually changed society.

“As a Computer Science graduate, I wanted more purpose beyond what I learnt in the classroom – applying my skills to make a bigger impact in the world and work on something meaningful."

I’m still making new connections through the Manchester alumni community, with people I am now proud to call friends here in San Francisco.

A global network

Through his studies, including an integrated year in industry with technology firm IBM, Ignas developed leadership skills that continue to shape how he manages teams and projects today.

“I had an amazing manager during my time at IBM. He taught me how to lead teams and make the most of your top players. That’s what I bring to my team and projects every day."

But just as influential were the people he met in Manchester.

“For the most part, it was the diversity of people from different countries I met in the city and the University – the different cultures and actually learning about them while working with them. All of us working towards the same goal helped to build the foundation on how I lead and work with people today."

His connection to Manchester has continued long after graduation. Alongside keeping in touch with friends from the city’s judo community and attending alumni events in San Francisco, he also volunteers as a Global Graduates host, introducing students from low-income backgrounds to Silicon Valley and providing the kind of international experience that helped shape his own career.

“I’m still making new connections through the Manchester alumni community, with people I am now proud to call friends here in San Francisco.”  

Building a better future

Last year, Ignas received the British Council’s Business and Innovation Award at the Study UK Alumni Awards for his work tackling the climate crisis through technology. 

Now valued at at $5 million (approximately £4 million), FoodWare has partnered with major global companies like PepsiCo and Nestlé, alongside international non-profits, as they work to reduce packaging waste at scale.

“Through my work, I have already positively impacted tens of thousands of people and have the potential to impact hundreds of thousands, if not millions, more while working on solutions to climate change. Through FoodWare alone, we have the potential to avoid £200 million of CO2 emissions each year."

Ignas says he would never have dreamt of becoming an entrepreneur before arriving at Manchester, crediting the University’s curriculum, hackathon culture and exposure to the city’s tech industry as contributors to helping shape his ambitions.

Today, he continues to think big. Ignas believes FoodWare is just the beginning of what can be achieved.

“My mission is to continue building companies in climate and impact spaces, creating a positive impact on a global scale by reaching hundreds of millions of people.”