Emilia AI, an innovative technology startup utilizing artificial intelligence to optimize restaurant operations, has successfully raised $1.5 million in a pre-seed funding round. The investment was led by global consumer internet group Prosus, which contributed $1 million to the financing. The injection of capital marks a significant milestone for the young enterprise as it looks to scale its operations, enhance its proprietary platform, and accelerate its expansion across Latin America.
Founded in 2024 by Colombian entrepreneurs Andrés Cajiao and Sebastian Rojo, Emilia AI addresses one of the most persistent and costly challenges in the hospitality and food service industry: operational inefficiency and revenue leakage. The startup’s platform leverages advanced computer vision by connecting directly to a restaurant’s existing security camera infrastructure. By seamlessly combining live video feeds with point-of-sale (POS) data, Emilia AI’s software analyzes real-time activities on the restaurant floor. The system is designed to identify untapped sales opportunities, detect potential fraud, and flag operational bottlenecks as they happen, giving managers and owners actionable insights to improve their bottom lines.
The newly secured pre-seed funding will be deployed strategically to further develop the platform’s technical capabilities. In addition to product enhancement, Emilia AI plans to deepen its footprint in Brazil, which serves as the company’s primary market, before embarking on a broader rollout across other countries in Latin America.
Before securing this latest round of funding, Emilia AI put its technology through rigorous real-world testing with major industry players in Brazil. One notable pilot was conducted with Alife Nino, a prominent hospitality group that operates more than 100 restaurants throughout the country. According to performance data shared by Emilia AI, the pilot yielded impressive results, generating approximately $300 in additional monthly revenue per table at an operational cost of just $10 per table.
Following the success of its initial deployments, Emilia AI also ran a pilot program with Jin Jin, a well-known food service brand. Encouraged by the measurable efficiency gains and revenue boosts observed during the testing phase, Jin Jin is currently in the process of expanding the Emilia AI platform across more than 77 of its locations. These successful deployments underscore the commercial viability and immediate value proposition of combining computer vision with traditional restaurant management data, positioning Emilia AI as a promising player in the burgeoning retail and hospitality technology sector in Latin America.
