Including Keeyu, GetVocal, and GoWit: eight retail technology funding rounds you need to know about

RTIH rounds up eight retail tech ventures who have recently secured significant investments in their businesses, including AI powered platforms that turn live engagement data into real-time insights, and solutions that detect and fix e-commerce issues before customers even notice them, including delivery delays, stockouts, failed payments, refund errors, carrier mismatches, and fulfilment bottlenecks.

1. Zilch

Zilch (a FinTech firm that launched in 2020) has raised $176.7 million in debt and equity. Led by KKCG, the round includes participation from BNF Capital, and several other investors. It also includes the expansion of its securitisation led by Deutsche Bank.

This follows the recent launch of Intelligent Commerce, an AI powered platform that turns live engagement data into real-time insights and is a response to the booming agentic commerce landscape. Zilch Pay, meanwhile, is set to launch in H1 2026, and will provide a one click checkout experience for customers.

“In just five years, we have rewired the relationship between brands and their customers, offering a different way to pay that brings mass benefits to both consumers and merchants.” says Philip Belamant, CEO and Co-Founder at Zilch.

“This funding reflects strong confidence in our team, strategy and execution, enabling us to continue scaling at pace. Our newly launched products are already driving outsized growth, and with the support of a world class group of debt and equity investors, we’re well positioned for the next phase of expansion.”

“In a market where many have found raising capital difficult, the network and strategic leadership of my co-founder, Sean O’Connor, have been instrumental in helping us achieve this outcome and we are excited for the year ahead.”

2. LineLeap

LineLeap, a platform pitched at bars, venues, and brands, has announced the close of a funding round valuing the company at $200 million and bringing total capital raised to over $30 million.

The venture is backed by the likes of Y Combinator, The Chainsmokers, NHL and NFL owners, and entertainment industry execs.

Founded in 2017 by Patrick Skelly, Nick Becker, and Max Schauff, LineLeap began as a solution to a common college problem: long lines at bars. It now powers over 700 venues across 150+ US cities and campuses and serves a community of more than 1.5 million users that took it to number six in social networking and number 42 overall in the US App Store charts this year.

“We started LineLeap to solve a problem we experienced firsthand, and it has since grown into a nationwide platform that elevates how venues and brands operate. This milestone is only possible because of the incredible support from our partnered venues, brands, and users. We are just getting started, and we could not be more excited for what we will accomplish together,” says Skelly.

The company’s mobile app enables users to skip long lines, pay for cover, buy event tickets, and access exclusive offers at bars and venues.

3. sunday

sunday, a payment platform built for the restaurant space, has raised a $21 million Series B funding round, with participation from DST Global Partners.

“Guests who pay with their phone behave just like they would in other digital experiences - they leave feedback, rate their experience, and generate data. And with the rise of AI, that unlocks an incredible amount of insight. Compared to traditional reservation platforms, sunday provides 11 to 13 times more guest feedback - instantly. It’s a game changer for hospitality.” says Victor Lugger, Co-founder at sunday.

Founded in 2021 by Christine de Wendel (U.S. CEO), alongside Lugger and Tigrane Seydoux (the entrepreneurs behind the European restaurant group, Big Mamma, which is set to land in Miami later this year), sunday was born from the idea that paying at a restaurant shouldn't be the worst part of the meal.

It started as a fast, simple way to pay, and has evolved into a full platform connecting every guest interaction: ordering, payment, loyalty, and CRM. The company says that it does not pile on more tech; it partners with the tools restaurants already use and make them work together.

4. GoWit

GoWit, an EMEA focused commerce and retail media network, has announced an undisclosed investment round led by Nuwa Capital, with participation from existing backers Formus Capital, APY Ventures, and DCP.

The new capital will fuel its expansion plans and the development of AI tools that aim to enhance ad performance, data intelligence, and monetisation for retailers, brands, and agencies.

GoWit’s technology is used retailers and marketplaces including Carrefour (Turkey), Union Coop (UAE), Raneen (Egypt), Toters Delivery (Lebanon), Mumzworld (UAE), and Heureka Group (Czech Republic).

The company is collaborating with ecosystem partners such as Goldbach (Switzerland), Spike Media (MENA), and Akinon (EMEA) in building a connected retail media infrastructure.

“We built the most intelligent, connected commerce and retail media network that enables every retailer, brand, and agency to grow profitably through a unified ad platform offering scalable technology, strong demand, and best-in-class operations,” says Emrah Adsan, Co-Founder and CEO at GoWit. 

“Our success across MENA and Europe shows the strength of our technology and partnerships. This investment will accelerate our EMEA expansion and advance our AI driven platform bringing next level intelligence and automation to retail media.”

5. Keychain

Keychain, an AI powered manufacturing platform for the consumer packaged goods (CPG) industry, has announced its entrance into the United Kingdom, marking the next phase of its European growth.

Currently used by eight of ten of the largest retailers in the US (including 7-Eleven and Whole Foods), the move comes alongside £7.5 million in new funding from investors including London registered W23 Global, a fund backed by five of the world’s leading grocery retailers - Tesco, Ahold Delhaize, Woolworths Group, Empire Company Limited and Shoprite Group.

W23 Global’s investment follows Keychain’s August 2025 Series B funding round (led by Wellington Management and BoxGroup).

Keychain’s expansion into the UK - led by GM Europe Alan Metcalfe, formerly of Red Bull and FULFIL - aims to help brands and manufacturers bring products to market faster, smarter, and more sustainably, supporting innovation across this market.

The company’s UK platform features more than 2,000 local manufacturers and has analysed and indexed over 500,000 British products, and has a running list of 1,000+ brands and retailers waiting to use the product before its official debut.

6. Albatross

Zurich-based Albatross has launched from stealth with a $12.5 seed funding round.

The startup’s AI platform helps retailers instantly adapt to in-session customer behaviour, with the aim of surfacing inspiring, contextually relevant items users would otherwise miss.

The round was led by MMC Ventures with participation from Redalpine, Daphni, and strategic angels, bringing Albatross's total funding to date to $16 million, following a $3.5 million foundation round in September 2024 led by Redalpine. It was founded in 2024 by Dr Kevin Kahn and Dr Matteo Ruffini, both former Amazon AI leaders, alongside entrepreneur Johan Boissard.

7. Keeyu

Decjuba, Rebel Sport NZ, Camilla, and EHP Labs are among the retailers adopting Keeyu's AI Agent to detect and fix e-commerce issues before customers even notice them, including delivery delays, stockouts, failed payments, refund errors, carrier mismatches, and fulfilment bottlenecks.

Keeyu has now launched phase two of the AI Agent to further automate the process in time to help businesses navigate the Black Friday and Christmas shopping rush. 

The company recently closed a $2.3 million pre-seed round, led by Rampersand, with participation from Archangel, Startmate, Empress Capital, Exhort Ventures, Sydney Angels, Southern Angels, and prominent angels Jason Wyatt (Marketplacer), Alexey Mitko (Eucalyptus), Paul Greenberg (DealsDirect, early advisor to Afterpay), and Luigi Iacullo (early Canva investor).

8. GetVocal

GetVocal, a European provider of conversational AI agents for enterprise customer support, has closed a $26 million Series A investment round led by Creandum with participation from Elaia and Speedinvest, bringing its total fundraising to date to $30 million.

GetVocal says it will use the cash to fuel product innovation, market expansion, and hiring across Europe.

Founded in 2023 by Roy Moussa and Antonin Bertin, the company is headquartered in Paris, with a 60-strong team spread across Europe. It serves 23 markets, with a stronghold in France and Portugal, and a presence in the UK and DACH.

“Research by the MIT Media Lab shows that 95% of companies fail to get financial value from AI pilots because they lack the skills, processes, and governance to effectively integrate AI. Our customers are proudly in the 5%,” says Moussa. 

“We look forward to restoring confidence in AI agents and offering Europe’s thriving enterprises a pragmatic solution to embed them in their customer experience operations. This funding will directly support the continued development of our hybrid workforce management capabilities and enable us to grow our international team and expand our commercial reach across Europe.”