Colombia's Celes raises $5M Series A to enter Brazil's retail market
What's the deal? CelesDealroom has a profile for this one. Try Dealroom →, a Colombian retail software startup founded in Barranquilla in 2023, has closed a $5 million Series A led by Brazilian fund SP VenturesDealroom has a profile for this one. Try Dealroom →. Fulcrum Global CapitalDealroom has a profile for this one. Try Dealroom → (US), 30N VenturesDealroom has a profile for this one. Try Dealroom → (Mexico), and Taram CapitalDealroom has a profile for this one. Try Dealroom → (Chile) also took part. The money will fund a formal entry into Brazil, the region's largest retail market.
What does it do? Celes builds AI agents and predictive algorithms that forecast demand, optimise inventory, and plan daily product distribution. The platform runs more than 90% of replenishment decisions autonomously, integrating with legacy systems such as SAP and Oracle.
The traction: Celes processes 55 million forecasts a day across more than 8,500 stores in eight countries. Clients include Olímpica, FEMSA Salud, and Tiendas Neto. José Manuel Carbonell, president of Olímpica, said the platform cut on-shelf stockouts and the logistics costs of handling and tracking merchandise.
Why now? The round follows a $3 million seed in 2024 led by FEMSA VenturesDealroom has a profile for this one. Try Dealroom → and marks Celes's shift from regional growth to a formal push into Brazil. It will also consolidate existing operations in Colombia, Mexico, and Chile.
What's the endgame? COO Luis Ballestas said aligning data between retailers and manufacturers is the key to cutting operating costs, reducing lost sales, and avoiding stalled inventory. SP Ventures managing partner Alexandre Stephan said the founding team structured a solution fit for the logistical and financial complexities of emerging markets.
The signal: The round sits around the 41st percentile for deals of its kind — a modest raise rather than a sector-defining one. It fits broader interest in applying AI to inventory and retail operations, but its success will hinge on turning regional traction into local adoption in a far larger market.
Read more: tekiosmag.com
Image credit: Generated with Gemini
