Vori Raises $22M to Bring AI to Small Grocery Stores Nationwide

Vori, an AI-powered grocery startup based in San Francisco, has secured $22 million in Series B funding. The company, which launched its platform in January 2024, aims to modernise small grocery stores with digital tools to compete against retail giants like Walmart and Amazon. Founded in 2019 by Stanford alumni Brandon Hill, Tremaine Kirkman, and Robert Pinkerton, Vori provides a single platform for inventory management, point-of-sale systems, and supply chain data. Its software automates tasks like processing payments, reading supplier invoices, adjusting shelf prices, and generating purchase orders. Since its launch, the startup has processed over $500 million in payments across 55 cities, serving more than 1 million consumers.

The latest funding round was led by Cherryrock Capital, with participation from Greylock Partners and The Factory. Stacy Brown-Philpot of Cherryrock Capital joined the investors, who see potential in bringing AI to an industry still reliant on fax machines and paper invoices. This Series B round follows a $10 million Series A in 2022, bringing Vori’s total funding to $32 million. The U.S. food retail market, valued at $1.5 trillion, includes 45,575 supermarkets averaging $711,806 in weekly sales per store. Vori’s tools help independent grocers streamline operations, reduce waste, and make data-driven restocking decisions.

The new funding will accelerate Vori’s expansion as it rolls out AI solutions to more grocery stores. By replacing outdated systems with automation, the startup aims to level the playing field for smaller retailers. The company’s rapid growth suggests increasing demand for digital tools in the grocery sector.