Footprints AI Attracts a €2.3 Million Investment Led by Catalyst Romania to Develop and Expand the Largest Retail Media Network in CEE

• Catalyst Romania led the funding round, with participation from SeedBlink and other private investors
• All previous investors reaffirmed their confidence by participating again in this round
• The funds will support international expansion and the enhancement of the platform with advanced AI technologies

Footprints AI, a Romanian technology company that develops and commercializes one of the most advanced retail-media and retail-data-insights platforms in the world and operates the most extensive network of this kind in Romania, has attracted a €2.3 million investment for international expansion and acceleration of its technological development.

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.

About Footprints AI

Footprints AI is the leader in retail media solutions, providing agencies and brands with an advanced platform for analytics, automation, and artificial intelligence to plan and execute omnichannel advertising campaigns. The platform enables precise audience-based targeting in stores and online, campaign optimization, and real-time impact analysis at the product and store level.

For retailers with physical locations looking to generate additional advertising revenue, Footprints AI transforms anonymous traffic and shopping behavior into media audiences using its proprietary AI technology. The solution guarantees up to a tenfold increase in non-trade revenue within just three months, without compromising data control, keeping everything 100% anonymized and private.

With this technological advantage, Footprints AI operates the most advanced retail media network in Central and Eastern Europe. The company analyzes and leverages the purchasing behavior of over 25 million physical and online customers each month, delivering successful campaigns for global brands. Partnerships in the CEE region include top retailers such as Profi, Lagardère Travel Retail, Rimi Baltic, Studenac, Wolt, Bolt Food, Carrefour, Altex, and others.

About Catalyst Romania
Catalyst Romania is a pioneer in private equity and venture capital investments in Romania, launching its first fund in 2012, financed through the JEREMIE initiative, and its second fund, Catalyst Romania Fund II, at the end of 2020. Catalyst Romania funds focus on providing early-stage growth capital to young technology companies in Romania and Eastern Europe, with the potential to become regional leaders or achieve global success.
Catalyst Romania Fund II is a VC fund managed by Catalyst II GP, both entities established under Luxembourg law, operating as an alternative investment fund and an alternative investment fund manager, respectively.

About InnovFin Equity and JEREMIE Holding Romania
Catalyst Romania Fund II is supported by JEREMIE Holding Fund Romania, an investment program between the European Investment Fund (EIF) and the Romanian Government, where EIF acts on behalf and for the benefit of the Romanian Government. This initiative reinvests revenues generated by operations carried out within the JEREMIE Holding Fund Romania during the 2007-2013 eligibility period and revenues from InnovFin Equity, with financial support from the European Union through Horizon 2020 Financial Instruments and the European Fund for Strategic Investments (EFSI), created under the Investment Plan for Europe. The EFSI’s objective is to support the financing and implementation of productive investments in the European Union and to ensure increased access to financing.

About EIF
The European Investment Fund (EIF) is part of the European Investment Bank Group. Its main mission is to support European micro-enterprises and SMEs by providing access to financing. EIF develops venture capital and growth instruments, guarantees, and microfinance tools, explicitly targeting this market segment. Through its role, EIF promotes EU objectives to support innovation, research and development, entrepreneurship, growth, and employment.