Israeli Startup Xpand Raises $6M to Launch Autonomous Stores
Xpand, an Israeli retail technology startup specializing in autonomous, AI-powered stores, has successfully closed a $6 million funding round. This significant capital injection, led by Ibex Investors and Emerge, along with participation from Xpand’s executive team including Chairman and CEO Joel Bar-El, is earmarked to accelerate the company’s global expansion plans, beginning with the launch of its first smart autonomous store in Vienna.
The core of Xpand’s offering lies in its modular “store-in-a-box” units. These innovative, unmanned retail spaces leverage a sophisticated blend of robotics, computer vision, and real-time inventory management to operate around the clock without requiring on-site staff. Designed for rapid deployment, these “plug-and-play” solutions empower retailers to swiftly expand their footprint while offering customers a seamless, personalized shopping experience, free from traditional checkout lines or limited operating hours.
Founded in 2021 under its original name, 1MRobotics, the company recently rebranded to Xpand to signify its strategic shift from research and development into commercial deployment. The newly secured capital will not only fuel the rollout of these autonomous stores across key markets in Europe and North America but also support the expansion of Xpand’s sales, marketing, and technology teams. The company is steered by a team of seasoned operators and entrepreneurs, drawing deep expertise from the retail, logistics, and enterprise technology sectors. Joel Bar-El, for instance, previously co-founded Trax Retail, a global retail AI “unicorn” — a privately held startup valued at over $1 billion. Other senior members bring a wealth of experience from leading industry players such as SAP, Retalix, Bringg, and Magic Leap, underscoring the depth of their collective knowledge.
This funding marks a pivotal moment for Xpand, positioning it to transition from vision to tangible global execution. As CEO Joel Bar-El emphasized, “The Vienna store is only the beginning. Our leadership team is deeply committed to bringing scalable, autonomous retail to life.” The company’s overarching mission is to redefine the future of retail, fostering a new generation of stores that are autonomous, infinitely scalable, and perpetually accessible, promising to reshape how consumers shop and how retailers operate worldwide.