The new funding will drive Xpand’s growth, starting with the launch of its smart autonomous store in Vienna, marking a key step in its plan to expand access to efficient, frictionless retail infrastructure.
Xpand, a retail technology startup building autonomous, AI-powered retail stores, has raised $6 million in a funding round led by Ibex Investors and Emerge. The company’s executive team, including Chairman and CEO Joel Bar-El, also participated, signalling internal confidence in its strategic direction.
The new funding will support Xpand’s growth, beginning with the launch of its smart autonomous store in Vienna. This marks a step in the company’s plan to expand access to efficient, frictionless retail infrastructure worldwide.
“With this new investment, we are ready to move from vision to global execution,” said Joel Bar-El, CEO of Xpand. “The Vienna store is only the beginning. Our leadership team is deeply committed to bringing scalable, autonomous retail to life.”
Xpand develops modular “store-in-a-box” units that integrate robotics, computer vision, and real-time inventory management. These unmanned plug-and-play stores are designed to operate 24/7 without staff, giving retailers a fast, flexible way to grow their footprint and provide a seamless, personalised shopping experience.
Xpand is led by a team of operators and entrepreneurs with roots in retail, logistics, and enterprise technology. Bar-El previously Co-Founded Trax Retail, a global retail AI unicorn. Other senior team members bring experience from companies, including SAP, Retalix, Bringg, and Magic Leap.
“Our mission is to power the next generation of retail – autonomous, scalable, and always on,” said Bar-El. “We are excited to partner with global retailers to bring this model to life.”
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