The funding round was led by Catalyst Romania, one of the most significant technology-focused venture capital funds in Southeast Europe, with a contribution of €1.5 million. SeedBlink, the European equity crowdfunding platform, also contributed to the funding, raising €100,000, according to the maximum threshold set for this round, despite significantly higher interest from active investors on the platform. Additionally, all previous investors of Footprints AI participated in this round, reaffirming their confidence in the company's potential.

The investment will support Footprints AI's expansion in Romania, the CEE region, as well as globally. The funds will also be used to accelerate platform development through the integration of advanced artificial intelligence (AI) functionalities, automation, scalability, and data security.

“Retail media represents one of the biggest transformations in digital advertising globally, and Footprints AI is at the forefront of this sector. We chose to support Footprints AI due to the company's ability to provide a scalable and integrated solution that addresses real market needs and generates measurable results. The platform and the team behind it have exceeded our expectations, and according to the latest data, the company's revenue increased sixfold in 2024 compared to the previous year,” said Marius Ghenea, Managing Partner at Catalyst Romania, part of the 3TS Capital Partners Romania network, one of the leading technology-focused venture capital funds in the region, with extensive experience in supporting innovative companies.

“This investment allows us to meet the growing demand in CEE, a region where the demand for retail media far exceeds the supply, and to expand into new markets where we identify exceptional growth potential. Our priorities include the continuous development of the platform, the integration of advanced artificial intelligence functionalities, and consolidating our position as a regional leader,” said Dan Marc, CEO and co-founder of Footprints AI, emphasizing that the reaffirmation of confidence by all previous investors, through the supplementation of their initial investments, highlights the value of Footprints AI's solutions, the impact it has on the market, and the strategic direction it is pursuing.

Retail Media: The global engine of advertising transformation

Retail media enables brands to efficiently target consumers based on shopping behavior, using anonymized data and advanced analytics, currently being one of the most dynamic segments of digital advertising.

The global retail media market is estimated to reach $166 billion in 2025, and by 2027, the company estimates that a significant portion of budgets previously allocated to 'traditional' channels such as radio, TV, OOH, as well as digital marketing, will be redirected toward this channel.

In the CEE region, Footprints AI is capitalizing on strong demand in a context where the supply is limited and fragmented. The company's platform targets a population of over 120 million consumers in the CEE region, offering retailers and brands integrated omnichannel solutions that combine online and offline data.

“Scalability and omnichannel integration represent the future of retail media. We are investing in artificial intelligence and automation to streamline processes and deliver measurable results to our clients in one of the fastest-growing industries. Platform fragmentation and scaling difficulties are major challenges for brands and retailers, and Footprints AI addresses these issues through an integrated platform that combines online and offline data. We focus on providing our clients with a simple yet powerful system capable of delivering efficient campaigns and maximizing the potential of this market,” said Paul Gheorghiu, Head of Partnerships and Co-Founder of Footprints AI.

A market potential of €500 million annually by 2030

Footprints AI estimates that the retail media market in Central and Eastern Europe (CEE) could reach an annual value of €500 million in the next six years, driven by increasing investments in data-driven advertising. This growth potential reflects the accelerated adoption of retail media strategies by brands that recognize the importance of leveraging data to optimize advertising campaigns.

At the same time, market fragmentation and the lack of scalable solutions create a unique opportunity for companies like Footprints AI, which offers integrated technologies capable of addressing the needs of both retailers and agencies. The CEE region is undergoing a major digital transformation, which supports the growth of this innovative advertising segment, with strong long-term expansion prospects.