Big news from the forefront of the retail revolution. We’re excited to announce that autone has successfully secured $17 million in Series A funding, led by General Catalyst with strong backing from YCombinator, Speedinvest, Seedcamp, Motier, Financière Saint James, and 2100 VC. This injection of capital is set to accelerate our mission to transform retail through AI-driven innovation, built by humans who know the industry inside and out.

Boosting profit is only a part of our story

The roots of autone go deep into the foundations of retail’s challenges, not just in pursuit of profit, but to fundamentally reshape a struggling industry. Our founders, Adil Bouhdadi and Harry Glucksmann-Cheslaw, were immersed in the operational trenches at Alexander McQueen where they encountered the relentless inefficiencies of traditional inventory management. Faced with systems that were always reacting to crises, never preventing them, they pioneered a new approach.

At McQueen, they developed a groundbreaking data-driven platform that not only solved pressing issues but also tripled the brand’s revenue to over $800 million in just five years. 

This success was the starting signal: the retail industry was ripe for transformation. Motivated by the measurable impact of their innovations, and loud and clear reactions to it from those working in the industry, they launched autone in 2021, determined to extend these benefits beyond high fashion to retailers worldwide.

Today, autone is used by over 50 global brands like Courreges, Roberto Cavalli, Stussy, and Zadig & Voltaire. We are revolutionizing how these companies forecast demand, manage inventory, and streamline operations—transforming data into decisions that prevent overstock and reduce waste and significantly alleviate the strain on retail workers.

The impact of an empathy-driven platform

autone’s technology addresses some of the most critical challenges in retail today. Our platform helps prevent:

• Stock from being burned because it’s not sold.

• The industry from wasting billions of dollars in inefficiencies.

• People working in retail from burning out due to outdated systems.

Retailers using our system report up to a 55% reduction in inventory levels, a 25% increase in forecasting accuracy, a 30% increase in sales, and save 45 hours per week on manual tasks. We're tackling every aspect of the industry, and won't compromise on any part of it.

How we plan to use the Series A funding

• Expanding internationally: This investment fuels our plans to expand further within the US, Europe. and beyond, aiming to reach mid-market retailers and premium brands that are navigating increasingly complex sales cycles and distribution channels.

• Advancing AI and machine learning: We are investing heavily in R&D to enhance our machine learning algorithms and predictive analytics. Every day, we're pushing the boundaries of what our AI can achieve in terms of operational efficiency and accuracy.

• Customizing insights: We will continue to refine our platform to provide more tailored, actionable insights that can address the specific challenges faced by each retailer.

Strengthening partnerships and client connections

Building strong relationships remains a core focus for us and we’d like to share a huge thank you to all of our customers, without which this would not have been possible.

We’re also busy deepening existing partnerships and seeking new collaborations with forward-thinking brands ready to embrace innovative inventory management solutions.

Join the retail renaissance

We're only just getting started, and we're actively looking for changemakers. At autone, you won't just find a job—you’ll engage in meaningful work that reshapes an industry desperate for innovation. If you’re ready to roll up your sleeves and tackle big challenges alongside the best in the business, autone is where you need to be. Dive in and see where you fit into this exciting journey.