Focal Systems Raises $25.8M in Series B Funding to Automate Retail Globally

SAN FRANCISCO, Dec. 27, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Focal Systems, the industry leader in retail automation, closed a $25.8m Series B financing round, led by Point72 Ventures, and joined by existing investors Costanoa, Zetta, and Zebra Technologies, among others.

The company will use the new funds to continue its rapid pace of growth and innovation with their AI-powered retail automation solutions, as well as expand its global sales and technical teams.

Focal Systems is rolling out with the largest retailers in the world, including Walmart, to rip and replace legacy Sales-based Perpetual Inventory (PI) systems with a first of its kind, real-time, accurate, and low-cost Computer Vision-based PI system that digitizes and transforms stores. Focal's AI leverages a network of patented low-cost shelf cameras that digitize the sales floor and backroom hourly to deliver impactful operational efficiencies, availability increases, sales growth, and inventory reduction. Entering 2021, Focal Systems had 10,000 cameras deployed, and over the course of the year, that number has grown 400%, with more than 40,0000 additional cameras deployed to major retailers across the globe. The company already has commitments to deploy an additional 200,000 cameras in 2022.

"I love partnering with retailers to transform their stores. Retailers are pushing harder than ever before to adopt Computer Vision and AI at scale, and Focal is here to help. At a time when supply chain issues, organized retail crime, and labor shortages continue to challenge the retail industry, merchants are still relying on outdated and inaccurate Sales-based PI systems that just do not work. Approximately half of the out-of-stock items on a grocery store's shelves are not related to supply chain issues or labor shortages – they're a result of Sales-based PI systems not accurately capturing data. Focal solves this," said Francois Chaubard, CEO of Focal Systems.

"Focal Systems has developed a unique platform to help the world's biggest and most well-known retailers automate and optimize retail operations to truly maximize cash flows through improved inventory, supply chain, and labor efficiency," said Sri Chandrasekar, Partner at Point72 Ventures. "We believe Focal's AI will play a vital role in the transformation of retail."

"Focal has built and deployed the first Computer Vision-based PI system that is better on every metric," Chaubard continued. "It requires no additional labor to manage it and it's much faster and more accurate at detecting outs and lows, allowing retailers to actually know what is going on in their stores versus just guessing. If our cars can drive themselves, why can't your stores? Focal retailers are doing it today at scale. This funding round allows us to continue our rapid growth by speeding up our product roadmap and scaling globally. Focal Systems is providing retailers the ability to digitize and transform in an era when they desperately need it."

About Focal Systems: 

Based in Silicon Valley, Focal Systems was founded in 2015 with a very clear mission – to automate and optimize retail. Focal Systems has deployed solutions to 3 continents in hundreds of stores, including the global leaders in retail. For more information visit focal systems or find them at their NRF booth #3152.

About Point72 Ventures:

Point72 Ventures is a global venture capital strategy led by a diverse set of domain experts with the capital and mandate to lead rounds through all stages of a company's growth, from idea to IPO. The team invests in founders with bold ideas who use the latest technologies to drive transformational change across industries. Point72 Ventures offers entrepreneurs access to expertise and insights, executive and technical talent, and hands-on support. With offices in the U.S. and Europe, Point72 Ventures is an affiliate of Point72, the global asset manager founded by Steven A. Cohen. For more information, visit p72.vc.

SOURCE Focal Systems