Make History
Partnering with visionary founders to transform retail and hospitality through technology innovation
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Investing in the Future of Commerce
Our Focus
We back early-stage technology companies revolutionizing how people shop, dine, and experience hospitality. From AI-powered personalization to sustainable supply chains, we invest in innovations that create lasting value for consumers and businesses alike.
Our portfolio spans point-of-sale systems, inventory management, customer engagement platforms, and next-generation delivery solutions that are reshaping entire industries.
Our Approach
We provide more than capital—we bring decades of operational expertise, strategic connections, and hands-on support. Our team has built and scaled retail and hospitality businesses, giving us unique insight into the challenges founders face.
We typically invest $2-10M in Seed through Series A rounds, partnering with founders for the long term.
Why Retail & Hospitality Technology Matters
$5.7T
Global Retail Market
Total addressable market for retail technology solutions worldwide
$4.3T
Hospitality Industry
Annual global spending in restaurants, hotels, and travel services
127%
Tech Adoption Growth
Increase in digital technology adoption by retailers since 2020
What We Look For
Bold Vision
Founders reimagining fundamental aspects of retail or hospitality, not just incremental improvements
Exceptional Teams
Diverse, mission-driven teams with complementary skills and unwavering commitment
Market Traction
Evidence of product-market fit with early customer adoption and revenue growth
Defensible Technology
Proprietary tech or business model advantages that create sustainable competitive moats
Investment Themes
AI-Powered Personalization
Machine learning platforms that create hyper-personalized shopping and dining experiences, from recommendation engines to dynamic pricing and customized marketing.
Seamless Commerce
Technologies enabling frictionless transactions across online and offline channels, including autonomous checkout, digital payments, and unified commerce platforms.
Supply Chain Innovation
Solutions optimizing inventory management, logistics, and fulfillment to reduce costs and improve sustainability while meeting consumer demands for speed.
Customer Experience Tech
Tools that enhance engagement through augmented reality, virtual try-on, immersive experiences, and next-generation loyalty programs that drive retention.
Our Portfolio Companies
Building Tomorrow's Leaders
We're proud to partner with exceptional founders creating category-defining companies. Our portfolio spans point-of-sale innovation, restaurant technology, inventory optimization, customer data platforms, and sustainable retail solutions.
These companies are deployed across North America, Europe, and Asia, serving thousands of retail locations and hospitality venues. Together, they process billions in transactions annually and touch millions of consumers daily.
Success Story
Hewlett Packard Enterprise–certified systems integrator focused on unified technology solutions for multi‑unit retail and hospitality brands. Serving multi‑concept operators in the retail and hospitality segment, the company delivers turnkey implementation, customization, and integration across HPE infrastructure, Oracle enterprise applications, Oracle MICROS POS and hospitality platforms, Salesforce CRM, and a proprietary CUSTOMER PLUS loyalty solution to create a seamless, data‑driven guest experience.
Success Story
Built and scaled CUSTOMER PLUS, a proprietary loyalty and multi‑channel engagement platform for retail and hospitality brands. The platform unified data capture, real‑time customer behavior analytics, and targeted engagement tools to boost retention and lifetime value across all locations. Protected by patented technology, CUSTOMER PLUS moved from concept to full commercial deployment and ultimately achieved a strategic exit, proving its impact on customer growth and revenue.
The Journey We Take Together
1
Initial Meeting
We move quickly. Most first meetings happen within a week of introduction and focus on understanding your vision and market.
2
Deep Dive
We conduct thorough diligence on product, market, and team—collaborating transparently throughout the 3-4 week process.
3
Term Sheet
Clear, founder-friendly terms with alignment on valuation, governance, and mutual expectations for the partnership ahead.
4
Close & Beyond
Funding typically closes within 30 days, then our real work begins—supporting you through every milestone and challenge.
Value Beyond Capital
Strategic Introductions
Access to our network of retail executives, hospitality leaders, and potential customers
Operational Support
Hands-on help with go-to-market strategy, pricing, and scaling operations
Talent Network
Connections to exceptional candidates for critical early hires
Meet Our Team
Our partners bring decades of experience building, operating, and investing in retail and hospitality companies. We've been founders, operators, and investors—giving us empathy for the entrepreneurial journey and practical wisdom to share.
Our team includes former CEOs of multi-million dollar retail chains, technology executives from leading platforms, and investors who've backed over 200 companies. We pride ourselves on being accessible, responsive, and genuinely helpful.
Founder Testimonials
"Beyond the capital, they've been instrumental in helping us navigate enterprise sales and build strategic partnerships. They understand retail deeply and connect us with the right people at the right time."
"What sets them apart is their operational expertise. They've walked in our shoes and offer practical advice that's helped us avoid costly mistakes and accelerate our growth trajectory."
Investment Criteria
Stage & Size
Seed through Series A rounds, typically $2-10M investments with ability to reserve for future rounds
Geography
Primarily North America and Europe, with select opportunities in high-growth Asian markets
Sectors
B2B and B2C technology serving retail, restaurants, hotels, travel, and related hospitality verticals
Industry Insights
We publish regular research and perspectives on trends shaping retail and hospitality technology. Our team analyzes market shifts, emerging opportunities, and lessons learned from our portfolio companies.
1
The Rise of Autonomous Retail
How computer vision and AI are eliminating checkout friction and reshaping store formats
2
Sustainability as Competitive Advantage
Why waste reduction and circular economy models are becoming table stakes
3
The Data-Driven Restaurant
Leveraging analytics to optimize menus, pricing, and labor costs in real-time
Ready to Build Together?
Let's Start the Conversation
We're always excited to meet ambitious founders tackling big problems in retail and hospitality. Whether you're just getting started or ready to scale, we'd love to hear your story.
The best introductions come through our network, but we review all inquiries. If you're building something exceptional, we'll find a way to connect.
Get in Touch
Email: founders@vsventurepartners.com
Location: Menlo Park, CA