SandStar
About
About SandStar
SandStar applies visual recognition at different scales within a shop. Its vending system performs product recognition at the edge, while Future Shop uses dynamic vision and action recognition to associate shopping behaviour with a bill generated as customers leave. The store system follows item pickups and returns as part of that transaction flow.
The same class of observation also supports store operations. SandStar's analytics tracks customer movement and dwell time, linking those patterns to product interactions. Retailers can use the resulting insights when changing layouts, staffing, promotions and planograms. This creates a separate operational use for the perception software alongside automated payment: understanding where shoppers spend time and which products they select or put back.
Funding
- 2020-08-04 - Series B+ - SandStar raises Series B+ investment from True Digital Group
The retail-technology company secured strategic backing to accelerate its international expansion. - source: newswire.com
- 2019-09-12 - Series B - SandStar announces Series B financing and rebrand from YI Tunnel
Guopeng Capital and Mobai Capital led the round as the retail computer-vision company adopted the SandStar name. - source: prnewswire.com
Investors
- Guopeng Capital - Lead - VC - 1 funding event - first seen 2019-09-12
- Mobai Capital - Lead - VC - 1 funding event - first seen 2019-09-12
- True Digital Group - Participant - Unknown - 1 funding event - first seen 2020-08-04
Team
- Mike Kiser - President
- Yili Wu - Founder
Timeline
Events
- 2021-10-11 - Deployment - SandStar powers Pepsi Go unattended store in Dubai
Customers used a payment card to unlock the entrance and were charged automatically after leaving. Cameras identified selected snacks and drinks and tracked shopping activity; customers received a digital receipt.
Source - 2021-03-25 - Partnership - SandStar partners with Alliance Funding Group on kiosk leasing
The programme offered customers a choice of financing plans suited to their expansion requirements. SandStar positioned leasing as a way to introduce unattended retail systems while preserving customer capital.
Source - 2020-08-04 - Funding - SandStar raises Series B+ investment from True Digital Group
The companies had already collaborated on retail projects for two years before the investment. SandStar planned further expansion across Asia, Europe, the Americas and the Middle East over the next two years.
Source - 2019-09-12 - Funding - SandStar announces Series B financing and rebrand from YI Tunnel
The financing brought cumulative capital raised to $25 million. Baidu Ventures, Kinzon Capital and Fengshion Capital had backed earlier rounds.
Source
Relations
Relationships
- WeVend
Partner - SandStar and WeVend combine ARK computer-vision coolers with PayQR payments for unattended retail.
Context
Shared workflows
- Retail Robotics Solutions
workflow adjacency - Computer Vision Self Checkout
Context tags
- Computer-vision self-checkout - Workflow - Computer-vision recognition and automated checkout for unattended retail. https://en.sandstar.com/ad/ …