Embargo bags £350,000 UK Smart Grant to build automated AI driven CRM platform for hospitality firms

Hospitality tech business Embargo has been awarded a UK Smart Grant by the UK government to develop an AI model for its CRM and loyalty platform.

Embargo is used by nearly 2,500 food and drinks SMEs. Founded by Fryderyk Szydlowski and Tsewang Wangkang, it allows restaurants, coffee shops and bakeries to reward regulars, capture data, communicate with their customers and offer direct ordering for delivery and pickup, while consumers use the firm's app as a digital wallet for paperless loyalty cards offered by hospitality brands.

Szydlowski says: “We are about to reach half a million app transactions monthly, which is a great testimonial to the work we put it in to make our solution easy to use and absolutely best in class for both businesses and their customers.”

The £350,000 Smart Grant will allow it to build a fully automated, AI driven CRM platform for hospitality businesses. By capturing and analysing a range of customer data - cross referencing what they purchase and how often against the time of day, day of the week, weather and more - the model will help businesses enhance their marketing, pricing, loyalty and communication strategies.

Wangkang comments: “Our mission is to help the tens of thousands of hospitality SMEs to tackle the major challenges they continue to face. Increases to running costs thanks to rising wages, inflation and the incoming National Insurance changes make this ever more important – the sector needs help."

“We are beyond excited to receive this grant and take our mission to the next level. SMEs deserve the highest level of technology in an easy to use, scalable form. We have already shown that our platform has major impact on our customers’ growth - our AI development will now make it even more powerful, giving businesses tools they never had.”

Embargo is also finalising its EIS funding round, which will be used to fuel market penetration, revenue growth and further develop the platform.

Szydlowski adds: “Our cash efficient strategy and product-led growth have attracted fantastic investors to our round. We are looking to oversubscribe it given the interest we have received and use the fact that we still have EIS allocation left. There’s a lot of work ahead of us but we couldn’t be more excited. Hospitality SMEs need powerful, easy to use solutions more than ever and we are here to provide them. It is time to accelerate.”

RTIH AI in Retail Awards

RTIH, organiser of the industry leading RTIH Innovation Awards, proudly brings you the first edition of the RTIH AI in Retail Awards, which is now open for entries. 

As we witness a digital transformation revolution across all channels, AI tools are reshaping the omnichannel game, from personalising customer experiences to optimising inventory, uncovering insights into consumer behaviour, and enhancing the human element of retailers' businesses.

With 2025 set to be the year when AI and especially gen AI shake off the ‘heavily hyped’ tag and become embedded in retail business processes, our newly launched awards celebrate global technology innovation in a fast moving omnichannel world and the resulting benefits for retailers, shoppers and employees.

Our 2025 winners will be those companies who not only recognise the potential of AI, but also make it usable in everyday work - resulting in more efficiency and innovation in all areas.

Winners will be announced at an evening event at The Barbican in Central London on Thursday, 3rd July.

This will kick off with a drinks reception in the stunning Conservatory, followed by a three course meal, and awards ceremony in the Garden Room.

Please email our Editor, Scott Thompson, if you have any questions or need further information: scott.thompson@retailtechinnovationhub.com

Key 2025 dates

Friday, 23rd May: Award entry deadline 

Tuesday, 27th May: 2025 finalists revealed

Wednesday, 28th May - Friday, 13th June: Judging days

Thursday, 3rd July: Winners announced at the 2025 RTIH AI in Retail Awards Ceremony, to be held at The Barbican in Central London.