London-based hospitality management software startup Embargo is preparing for growth across Europe fuelled by a $3.5m (£2.6m) investment.
Founded in 2017, Embargo is a CRM, loyalty and ordering platform for hospitality businesses used by a little under 3,000 venues, mostly in the UK, Poland and parts of Western Europe.
The firm has reported strong growth in the past few years, with revenue almost tripling since mid-2023.
“Our mission is to level the playing field for hospitality SMEs keen to grow their revenues and scale – we do that by giving them access to the kind of tools typically reserved for global enterprises,” said Embargo co-founder Frederick Szydlowski.
“With strong foundations, a growing international footprint, and a clear product roadmap, we’re perfectly positioned to become the go-to platform for hospitality businesses worldwide.”
The new investment round saw participation from a handful of angel investors as well as food industry-focused fund Hampton Finance.
“We know how hard it is for SMEs to capture and analyse customer data effectively,” said Hampton Finance director Oliver Chantler.
“Embargo’s plug‑and‑play CRM platform gives SMEs sophisticated but easy to use tools, which have proven to drive repeat revenue for thousands of merchants. Embargo is closing a critical information gap in the food‑and‑hospitality sector, and we are excited to be part of its journey.”
Earlier this year the company received a £350,000 grant from the British government to develop an AI model to support the struggling hospitality sector.