Chemical procurement is one of the most complex and overlooked categories in the supply chain. Between navigating regulatory constraints, aligning on technical specifications, and finding qualified suppliers, even the most experienced procurement teams face major hurdles. That’s exactly the gap Valdera was built to solve.
Founded by sister-brother duo Sruti Arulmani (CEO) and Dheev Arulmani (COO), Valdera is an AI-native sourcing platform purpose-built for chemicals and raw materials. Rather than applying generic technology to a specialised industry, the team set out to reimagine chemical procurement from the ground up.
“Chemicals are one of the most complex sourcing categories,” says Dheev. “In order for a company to gain leverage from AI in this space, it must build the data infrastructure and the AI specific to this industry. That was the inspiration behind Valdera. Our vision was to partner directly with procurement organisations and help digitise that entire sourcing workflow all the way from supplier discovery to market intelligence to qualification.”
“Direct procurement is really at the core of your product’s margin,” adds Sruti. “In today’s economy, business leaders are focused on staying profitable, and that starts with ensuring the materials behind your products deliver on both margin and performance. Most of the physical products we touch and interact with every day come down to what they’re made of. That’s why we’re so passionate about chemicals and raw materials.”
The power of vertical AI models
While general-purpose LLMs are powerful, they fall short when it comes to industries like chemical procurement where context, precision, and deep domain expertise are crucial. Valdera has taken a different approach: building vertical AI specifically trained to understand the language, data, and complexity of chemicals and raw materials.
“In procurement, especially for chemicals, one-size-fits-all AI doesn’t cut it,” says Sruti. “You need models that can interpret highly technical specifications, normalize data across formats and suppliers, and understand the nuances that determine whether a supplier can actually meet a request.”
That’s exactly what Valdera has built. “We will continue to layer the specificity of the chemical industry on top of an LLM that’s already good at structuring information and returning information in a useful way,” Sruti adds.
Dheev continues: “If you look at the generic LLMs available today, the challenge with these is that they fundamentally don’t work in this industry. The reason for that is that there are no LLMs that are trained on chemical specs. So what we’ve done is take those models and fine-tune them using our own proprietary dataset of chemical specs and properties, built over the last five years. That’s what positions us to drive real value for our users.”
Prioritising privacy
In the chemicals industry, data is sensitive. Trust is everything. Buyers are protective of their proprietary formulations, and understandably do not want their data used to train models that could benefit competitors. On the other side, suppliers are cautious about publicly listing their full product catalogs, especially when it comes to custom or high-value materials. Valdera was built with these realities in mind, and its platform is designed to protect both sides.
“In chemicals, suppliers are very protective of their proprietary catalogs,” Dheev adds. “And buyers are equally cautious about sharing proprietary formulations that go into their products. So there needs to be an independent third party that both sides can trust—someone who can facilitate discovery and sourcing without compromising confidentiality.”
“For us, it’s about protecting the interests of both buyers and suppliers,” Sruti explains. “We only use customer data to drive outcomes for that customer. We’re not here to train on anyone’s inputs or share information across the ecosystem. We’re here to help our customers get the best results for their business. That’s core to how we think about data privacy and partnership.”
The humanity of procurement
Even as AI becomes more powerful, procurement remains deeply human. Trust, context, and judgement are critical to strong buyer-supplier relationships, and no model can replace that. Instead, AI can enable teams to work faster, focus on strategy, and unlock new value across the supply chain.
“Procurement is a human business,” says Sruti. “At the end of the day, it’s two people coming together and making an agreement. We believe that’s never going to change.”
Rather than add complexity or replace roles, Valdera’s AI helps teams do more with the resources they already have. That means less time spent on manual tasks like gathering supplier documentation or comparing specs and more time spent on strategic decision-making, relationship-building, and growing the business.
“Our customers don’t want to be buried in paperwork. They want to focus on the work that actually drives outcomes,” Sruti adds. “We’re here to take the most repetitive parts of the job off their plate so they can do that.”
“The chemicals industry is inherently relationship-driven,” says Dheev. “But today’s procurement teams are stretched thin. With Valdera, one person can now manage a broader scope: sourcing faster, accessing a wider network of qualified suppliers, and making smarter decisions in less time. That’s what’s getting our customers excited.”
Driving impact beyond cost
In chemical procurement, cost will always matter but it’s only part of the equation. The organizations leading the way are the ones thinking strategically: securing supply, expanding their supplier base, improving agility, and driving long-term value. That’s why more teams are turning to Valdera not just to cut costs, but to unlock a new level of visibility, access, and control.
“Our vision is to enable procurement professionals to leverage this data in order to give them market intelligence, expand their supplier network, and enable margin expansion,” Dheev concludes. “If you ask any of our customers, they’ll tell you savings are just table stakes when using Valdera. The real impact comes from levers like security of supply, innovation and sustainability. Those levers are harder to quantify, but they’re critical to the long-term success of the business.”
Implementing an outcome-based approach
In a crowded and fast-evolving tech landscape, it’s easy to get distracted by the promise of sweeping, all-in-one solutions. But the most effective procurement teams stay focused, starting with a clear understanding of their business goals and choosing technology that’s purpose-built to achieve them.
“Success starts with knowing the outcomes you’re trying to drive,” says Sruti. “Whether it’s sourcing the right chemicals, improving security of supply, unlocking savings, or advancing sustainability and innovation. Being clear about those goals is what helps you identify the right tools and partners to get there.”
That kind of clarity leads to faster wins and less wasted effort. “We always encourage customers to start where the impact matters most,” Dheev adds. “Don’t spread yourself too thin. Be specific about the problem you’re solving, define the KPI that matters, and test any solution against that. Just because a tool is popular doesn’t mean it’s the right fit. The best results come from targeted solutions that align with your most pressing priorities.”