Xpand

Company Overview

Snapshot

Founded in February 2021 by Eyal Yair and Roee Tuval, Xpand operates with 11–50 employees. The company has raised $32.25 million across 6 funding rounds from 4 investors, with Emerge as a lead investor. In August 2023, Xpand appointed Joel Bar-El, founder and chairman of Trax, as its Chairman, signaling a strategic move to strengthen its leadership team with experienced technological entrepreneurship.

Business overview

Xpand develops unmanned store solutions for 24/7 omnichannel retail, enabling businesses to expand their market presence and enter new locations with flexible, plug-and-play units. These units are designed for easy deployment and redeployment to optimize real estate and improve consumer access. The company's core technology leverages robotics and artificial intelligence to automate processes, reduce operational costs, and enhance customer engagement. Xpand operates within the Automotive & Mobility Technologies sector, specifically focusing on Logistics & Transportation Management, and also addresses the Food Tech and Climate Tech sectors by optimizing storage and distribution to minimize waste and reduce CO2 emissions.

Strategic signal

In January 2024, Xpand (formerly 1MRobotics) showcased its convenience store concept, resembling a giant ATM, at the National Retail Federation's Expo in New York. This highlights the company's focus on integrating advanced retail technology, including AI and robotics, to prevent shoplifting and streamline the buying process. This development signals Xpand's commitment to innovation in retail automation and its potential to disrupt traditional brick-and-mortar models by offering secure, efficient, and unmanned shopping experiences.

Company Intelligence Q&A

What was a significant leadership change at Xpand?

In August 2023, Xpand appointed Joel Bar-El, the founder and chairman of Trax, as its Chairman. This appointment aims to leverage Bar-El's experience in technological entrepreneurship to strengthen the company's leadership team.

What was Xpand's involvement in the National Retail Federation's Expo?

In January 2024, Xpand (under its former name 1-m robotics) presented a convenience store concept at the National Retail Federation's Expo in New York. This concept, designed to resemble a giant ATM, focuses on preventing shoplifting through advanced retail technology.

What strategic partnership did Xpand establish in February 2023?

In February 2023, Xpand (then 1MRobotics) launched a pilot project with Nespresso Israel. This partnership aimed to shorten coffee order delivery times to within two hours by utilizing Xpand's robotic warehouses for automated picking and packaging.

What was the outcome of Xpand's Series A funding round?

Ibex Investors led this round, with participation from INT3 and Target Global, to support the development of robotic dark stores and expansion into new markets.

When did Xpand participate in the Intel Ignite accelerator program?

Xpand graduated from the Intel Ignite corporate accelerator program in August 2021, after participating in batch 4 which ran from May 2021.