Colombian Retailtech Startup Celes Raises US$5 Million to Expand AI Platform Into Brazil
Colombian retail technology startup Celes has raised US$5 million in a Series A funding round led by Brazilian venture capital firm SP Ventures, with participation from Fulcrum Global Capital, 30N Ventures, and Taram Capital. The company plans to use the capital to strengthen its operations in Colombia, Mexico, and Chile while beginning its formal expansion into Brazil. The investment marks another step in Celes' efforts to bring its artificial intelligence-based inventory and supply chain technology to retailers across Latin America.
Founded in Barranquilla in 2023 by Luis Ricardo Almanza, CEO; Luis Ballestas, COO; and David Florián, CTO, Celes develops software that helps physical retailers forecast product demand, manage inventory, and coordinate distribution. Its platform uses predictive algorithms and AI agents to support replenishment decisions across store networks, connecting with existing enterprise resource planning systems such as SAP and Oracle rather than replacing them.
Celes Uses AI to Optimize Retail Inventory Management
Celes' platform is designed to help retailers make inventory decisions using data from their operations. By forecasting demand at the product and store level, the software helps determine how much merchandise is needed and where it should be distributed. The system also automates replenishment processes, aiming to reduce stock shortages, excess inventory, and operational inefficiencies across physical retail networks.
The company reports that its technology processes 55 million daily forecasts for more than 8,500 stores in eight countries, with over 90% of replenishment decisions executed autonomously. Its client portfolio includes Colombian retailer Olímpica, FEMSA Salud, and Tiendas Neto. These deployments demonstrate the platform's application across retail networks with different operational requirements, where coordinating inventory between suppliers, distribution centers, and stores can be a complex process.
SP Ventures Leads Celes' US$5 Million Series A
The funding round was led by SP Ventures, with Fulcrum Global Capital, 30N Ventures, and Taram Capital also participating. Alexandre Stephan, Managing Partner at SP Ventures, highlighted the founding team's ability to develop technology suited to the operational and financial challenges of emerging markets. The investment reflects the company's position in the retail technology segment, where software tools are increasingly being used to support inventory planning and supply chain management.
Celes plans to consolidate its presence in Colombia, Mexico, and Chile while entering Brazil, Latin America's largest retail market. The expansion will require the company to adapt its technology and commercial operations to retailers in a new market, while building on its existing regional experience. Its current footprint across multiple countries provides a base for that next stage, although its ability to scale will depend on establishing new customer relationships and implementing its platform within different retail operations.
Retail Technology Investment Supports Regional Expansion
Celes' funding round comes as retailers across Latin America continue to explore technology that can improve inventory visibility, demand forecasting, and distribution. Physical retail businesses manage large volumes of products across multiple locations, making coordination between suppliers and stores an important part of their operating models. Software that connects existing enterprise systems with predictive analytics can help companies make more informed decisions about purchasing, replenishment, and stock allocation.
For Celes, the next phase is centered on taking its platform into additional markets while strengthening its existing operations. Its planned entry into Brazil represents a significant step in that strategy, bringing the Colombian startup into a larger retail market and creating opportunities to work with new enterprise customers. The US$5 million Series A will support that expansion as the company seeks to grow its presence in Latin America's retail technology sector.
Source: StartupsLatam
