Seven retail tech startups to watch in 2021
These retail technology ventures should be on your radar over the next 12 months.
1. Pandion
Pandion has emerged from stealth mode and raised $4.9 million in seed funding.
Launched in 2020, the venture, which taps machine learning to more efficiently transport e-commerce packages, will use the cash to grow its team and expand customer pilots.
Founder and CEO Scott Ruffin was the Founder and Head of Amazon Air and most recently was VP and Head of Walmart’s E-commerce Transportation division.
2. Marxent
RTIH recently got the lowdown on Marxent, whose 3D cloud and 3D applications are used by omnichannel home improvement and home furnishings retailers and manufacturers to reduce returns, sell bigger baskets, and enhance CX.
We were impressed and we reckon you will be too.
3. autoRetouch
autoRetouch is an AI powered image editing platform for fashion and lifestyle brands that recently secured seed funding of €3.2 million, with European apparel retailer Breuninger leading the investment.
Check out our interview with them here.
4. Nomitri
Check out this article in which RTIH discusses startup life with Nomitri CEO Trinh Le-Fiedler, including navigating coronavirus related challenges and building an alternative to Amazon Go.
5. Paltech
Tesco Ireland has become the first Irish retailer to create a recycling solution for soft plastics.
To date soft plastics have not been eligible for the national household recycling bin infrastructure in Ireland.
Using technology developed by Paltech, they will be flaked and prepared for processing into construction materials to be used in the Tesco Ireland network for new stores, and in store maintenance and refits including buildings, car park barriers and signage.
6. Fabric
Headless e-commerce platform provider, Fabric, has announced a $43 million Series A funding round led by Norwest Venture Partners, with participation from Redpoint Ventures and Sierra Ventures.
This follows on from the company bagging $9.5 million in seed funding, and will be used to accelerate product development and expand its team.
7. Swapi
Pete Howroyd recently talked to RTIH about how he is tackling the issue of unspent loyalty rewards with the launch of mobile app venture Swapi.
“People have broken with many of their old habits due to lockdown, and the old loyalty rules don’t apply any more,” he said.
“There’s a new urgency to find ways to engage customer and build loyalty. I think Swapi can be a big part of that solution”