Zippin

About Zippin

Zippin provides an autonomous shopping platform for brick-and-mortar retailers, enabling a checkout-free experience for consumers. Founded in 2018 by Krishna Motukuri and Motilal Agrawal, the San Francisco-based company aims to eliminate lines by leveraging artificial intelligence, machine learning, and sensor fusion technology. The system uses a combination of overhead cameras and smart shelf sensors to track customers and the items they select, automatically processing payment when they exit the store. Shoppers enter by scanning a QR code in the Zippin mobile app or using a credit card.

The company's CEO and co-founder, Krishna Motukuri, has a background in retail technology and e-commerce, including seven years at Amazon and founding the comparison shopping site Ugenie. The idea for Zippin reportedly came after he experienced frustration waiting in a long checkout line. Motilal Agrawal is the other co-founder.

Zippin's business model is primarily a B2B Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) model, where retailers pay a recurring subscription fee for the technology. There are also initial fees for hardware installation and setup. The platform is designed for various retail formats, including convenience stores, sports stadiums, airports, and grocery stores. Clients include major food service providers like Aramark and Compass Group, as well as international retailers such as Lawson in Japan and Americanas in Brazil. The technology can be retrofitted into existing stores or installed in new constructions, with a stated accuracy rate of over 99%.

Zippin has raised a total of $45 million in funding over four rounds. Its most recent funding was a $30 million Series B round in September 2021, with participation from investors like Evolv Ventures (the venture fund of Kraft Heinz), Maven Ventures, and SAP.