Participated · Series B · Dec 2020

Trigo builds an autonomous checkout system called EasyOut that uses overhead cameras, shelf sensors, machine learning and "digital twins" of stores to enable cashier-free grocery experiences. It also provides inventory-management tools and plans to launch StoreOS to combine checkout, analytics, marketing and other in-store systems. The company targets large-format supermarkets and has opened stores between about 3,000 and 5,000 square feet to date, and is working on deployments larger than 10,000 square feet. Trigo lists major grocery customers and partners including Tesco, REWE, ALDI Nord (Netherlands), Netto (Munich), Shufersal (Israel) and the Wakefern cooperative (U.S.). Management says typical customers see return on investment within about 18 months, and the firm argues its full-store camera-and-sensor approach supports broader store digitization and predictive inventory management. The company faces competitors such as Standard Cognition, Shopic, Caper, Zippin and Grabango, and sees opportunities to retrofit thousands of existing grocery stores and expand into pharmacies and quick-service restaurants. Trigo develops an end-to-end computer-vision checkout system combining camera hardware and encrypted, privacy-by-design software to automatically detect and bill items as shoppers leave. The company positions its product as a rival to Amazon’s "Just Walk Out" and is already in trials with retailers. Trigo has strategic relationships with Tesco (UK trials) and Shufersal (Israel), and its latest investor is REWE Group, which will pilot a new grab-and-go store in Cologne with scope to expand across REWE’s ~3,700 German stores. Financially, Trigo confirmed a $10M investment in this round and says it has now raised $104M in total, after a Series A in 2019 and a $60M Series B in December of last year. The company is not disclosing a valuation. Trigo builds AI-powered computer-vision frictionless checkout systems that retrofit existing grocery stores using ceiling-mounted cameras and off-the-shelf hardware. Its proprietary algorithms learn shoppers' movements and product choices so customers can walk out while payments and receipts are settled digitally. The company offers a privacy-by-design RetailOS 3D engine that uses anonymized movement and product data to provide predictive inventory management, pricing optimization, security and fraud prevention, planogram compliance, and event-driven marketing. Trigo has seen rapid growth and strong demand in 2020 and is working with leading retailers on the European mainland to open stores in 2021, including a trial with Tesco at a Tesco Express in Welwyn Garden City. The new funds will be used to scale the business, boost R&D, and expand its global presence. The company is based in Tel Aviv, Israel. Trigo builds a store-wide computer-vision and sensor platform that monitors shoppers and automatically tallies items so customers can leave without a traditional checkout. Its system triangulates camera data to avoid double-charging and removes items from the bill if discarded. The company is piloting the technology in roughly 5,000-square-foot stores and says it can be implemented to work with or without loyalty cards. Trigo has deals in place with an unspecified European chain and Israel’s largest grocer, Shufersal, which plans to implement the solution in 280 stores over five years. The product targets large supermarkets and aims to scale beyond current pilot store sizes. Trigo does not disclose revenue or valuation and has raised capital to continue product development and retailer deployments.

Led · Equity · Dec 2013

Lazada is a flagship Southeast Asia e-commerce platform owned by Alibaba. It connects roughly 160 million active consumers with more than 1 million monthly active sellers. The company recently received a $230 million capital injection from Alibaba, its first injection this year. Since 2016, Alibaba has cumulatively invested over $7.7 billion into Lazada. Lazada has launched Lazada Global Plus, a logistics pricing system; registration was opened to mainland China cross-border merchants and drew strong merchant interest. The article does not disclose revenue or profitability figures. Lazada operates a major e-commerce marketplace serving consumers across Southeast Asia. The company targets users in Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines and Thailand. It historically received support from Rocket Internet’s Samwer brothers. Lazada is majority-owned by Alibaba Group, which acts as its parent company. In December 2023 the company received a $634 million capital injection from Alibaba. The article does not report other operating metrics or additional financial details. Lazada operates an online marketplace serving Southeast Asia. It is currently run under Alibaba’s spinoff Global Digital Commerce Group, which received board approval in May to seek external financing for expansion. Alibaba has invested a further $845 million into Lazada, according to Tech in Asia. The latest capital injection came three months after a previous $5.99 billion investment and is reported to raise Alibaba’s total bet to nearly $6 billion since gaining control in 2016. The funds are expected to bolster support for local merchants. Lazada faces fierce regional competition from Tencent-backed Shopee, which remains the largest online retail platform in the region. Lazada operates an e-commerce platform serving Southeast Asian markets. The company recently received a $342.5 million investment from its parent, Alibaba. That injection is the third additional investment Alibaba has made into Lazada this year. The latest funding brings Lazada’s valuation to $11.3 billion, according to DealStreetAsia. Alibaba has injected more than $1.6 billion into Lazada so far this year. The company has seen frequent personnel changes in 2022, including the June appointment of James Dong as Lazada Group CEO. Operating metrics in Alibaba’s Q3 earnings show order growth slowed in the June–September period while losses per order narrowed by 25% year‑over‑year for the same period. Lazada is an online shopping and selling destination launched in 2012 and operating in Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam. The platform connects consumers and merchants across Southeast Asia. The company intends to use new capital to accelerate growth plans in the region and deepen its integration into the Alibaba ecosystem. Integration with Alibaba is expected to let Lazada tap Alibaba’s resources to better serve consumers and empower merchants. Leadership changes accompanied the investment: Lucy Peng, an Alibaba founder and senior partner, will take on the additional role of CEO, while Lazada founder Max Bittner will transition to a senior advisor role. The articles report significant capital support from Alibaba but do not disclose other operating metrics.