VisioLab raises $11M for AI-powered iPad checkout systems

German startup VisioLab has raised $11 million in Series A funding to scale its AI-powered self-checkout systems for the foodservice industry. The round was led by eCAPITAL and Simon Capital, with participation from existing investors High-Tech Gründerfonds, APX, and family office zwei.7. The company's camera-based checkout system uses an Apple iPad to identify food and drinks without barcodes in under 10 seconds. The AI runs as an app on the iPad, eliminating the need for proprietary hardware. The entire unit weighs less than 25 pounds and can be set up in 15 minutes. VisioLab's technology is already deployed at 43 points of sale inside the Orlando Magic's Kia Center NBA arena. The system is also used by NFL teams the Atlanta Falcons and Carolina Panthers at their stadiums, and has been selected by Inter Miami for its new NU stadium. The United States now accounts for approximately half of the company's revenue. The startup also serves corporate cafeterias and university dining halls across Germany, with about one in three German university campuses using the technology through student services organizations. Global catering companies Compass Group and Aramark are partners in both Europe and the United States. Founded in Osnabrück in 2019, VisioLab will use the funding to accelerate international expansion into Australia, New Zealand, Austria, the Netherlands, and the United Kingdom. The company plans to grow its team from 25 to around 40 employees and open a dedicated U.S. office in Boston. Iwo Gernemann, co-founder and president, will lead the U.S. expansion. The company is also hiring new executives from Klarna, SumUp, and Google, with approximately 15 positions currently open across go-to-market and engineering roles.