Smart vending platform Wendor raises $2.5 Mn in seed round

Smart vending platform Wendor has raised $2.5 million (about Rs 21 crore) in a seed funding round led by Elanpro. The investment is structured as a mix of equity (₹5 crore) and debt (₹16 crore). Wendor will also receive operational support from Elanpro, enabling it to leverage an extensive service and logistics network across India.

The funds will be deployed to advance AI-powered vending technology, develop computer vision solutions, and strengthen Wendor’s market presence both in India and globally, the company said in a press release.

Launched in 2021 by Lakshit Anand, Wendor provides AI-driven vending and automated retail solutions in India. With a focus on digital payments, mobile integration, and smart vending technology, it aims to shape the future of retail automation. The company specializes in advanced vending technology and IoT solutions, focusing on retail and service experiences, and offers compact, customizable, and cashless vending machines with a cloud-based management system.

Wendor plans to enhance its AI-driven vending technology to improve inventory management, minimize shrinkage, and boost operational efficiency. It also aims to launch camera-based product and quantity detection systems for real-time tracking. The company offers AI-powered demand forecasting to analyze consumer behavior and optimize product offerings, along with advanced automation to create a seamless, data-driven retail experience.

To reinforce its market presence, Wendor intends to launch ten experience centers across key metro and Tier-1 cities in the next two months. These centers will provide customers with hands-on interaction with Wendor’s advanced vending solutions, including AI-based product recognition, automated inventory tracking, and refrigeration-integrated vending technology.

Wendor claims it has established strong collaborations, including with NAFED, and has installations at government offices such as Rashtrapati Bhawan. Its vending machines have also been deployed at the Taj Mahal and Fatehpur Sikri, in partnership with the Uttar Pradesh State Tourism and Agra Development Authority. The company also partners with Coca-Cola, Amul, Nivea, Apollo Hospitals, Unilever, and Fortis.