Contactless stores are becoming increasingly popular in Europe, with Sensei, a Portuguese startup, securing a significant $16 million in funding to expand its contactless store platform. This funding round was led by BlueCrow Capital, with participation from other investors such as Lince Capital, Explorer Investments, Kamay Ventures, Metro AG, and Techstars Ventures.
Sensei aims to have 1,000 fully autonomous points of sale by 2026 and is currently operating in Portugal, Spain, France, Italy, and Brazil, with plans to expand further into central and northern Europe. The company’s system uses computer vision, AI-powered sensors, and real-time algorithms to update a customer’s cart automatically and display a ready-to-pay list of items while protecting identity and privacy.
According to Vasco Portugal, the CEO and co-founder of Sensei, the retail industry faces challenges related to customer experience and processing sales information in real-time. He emphasized the importance of automating stores to improve efficiency, comparing it to the automation of cars and factories.
Sensei is not alone in the contactless store space, with competitors like Standard Cognition, Trigo, Grabango, AiFi, and Zippin also securing substantial funding from investors. These contactless stores offer benefits such as reduced checkout costs, prevention of stock-outs, and real-time visibility into store operations.
With the growing demand for contactless shopping experiences, Sensei’s innovative technology and expansion plans position the company well to capitalize on the evolving retail landscape in Europe and beyond. As the industry continues to embrace automation and technology, contactless stores are likely to play a significant role in shaping the future of retail.
