Pointy brings retailers into the digital world. Image: Juergen Faelchle/Shutterstock
Pointy’s tech turns ordinary retailers into e-tailers.
Dublin-based start-up Pointy has raised $6m in a Series A funding round led by Frontline Ventures and also including Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen’s Vulcan Capital.
In fact, the investment round reads like a who’s who of digital, with other investors including WordPress co-founder Matt Mullenweg, Google Maps co-founder Lars Rasmussen, Bebo co-founder Michael Birch, Transferwise co-founder Taavet Hinrikus and even Irish rugby star Jamie Heaslip.
Pointy helps ordinary retailers square up against Amazon
Pointy’s combines hardware and software to help local retailers establish an online presence.
Through a Pointy box, the retailer’s inventory, via barcode scanning, is then made searchable for purchase online.
The technology, developed by Mark Cummins and Charles Bibby, gives retailers a chance to shine online in a world increasingly dominated by online giants such as Amazon.
Cummins previously established visual search engine company Plink, which was acquired by Google in 2010.
It is understood that Pointy’s technology is now being used in shops across Ireland, and the point of the investment is to help the company to grow internationally, especially in the US.
