nFuse closes €1.7 million round to digitise traditional trade
Sofia-based startup nFuse has raised €1.7 million to expand its AI-powered ordering platform for traditional and fragmented trade, aiming to modernise how small retailers and wholesalers transact without forcing them to download yet another app.
Operating in markets where phone calls, messaging apps and paper notes still dominate orders, nFuse uses AI algorithms and conversational interfaces to capture and process orders through the channels shop owners already use. By integrating directly with distributors and wholesalers, the company promises faster order processing, fewer mistakes and better visibility on inventory and pricing.
AI ordering without new apps
Instead of competing for space on a retailer’s crowded smartphone, nFuse plugs into existing communication tools. Retailers can send orders via familiar messaging platforms or voice, while the startup’s back-end system translates these into structured data for suppliers. This app-free approach is designed to increase adoption in regions where digital transformation of traditional trade has lagged.
The platform also aggregates fragmented order flows, giving distributors a single interface to manage sales, track demand patterns and optimise route planning. Over time, AI-driven recommendations are expected to improve product mix, reduce stockouts and support more targeted promotions.
Scaling across fragmented markets
The fresh capital will be used to deepen product development, enhance machine learning capabilities and accelerate expansion into additional markets in Central and Eastern Europe and beyond. The team plans to build more integrations with existing ERP systems and logistics tools used by regional distributors.
By focusing on the everyday workflows of small retailers rather than imposing complex new software, nFuse positions itself as a practical infrastructure layer for modernising traditional trade. Investors are betting that this low-friction, AI-first model can become a standard for how fragmented retail ecosystems digitise ordering and supply chains.