Autonomous retail innovator Xpand, formerly known as 1MRobotics, has officially opened its first European store in Vienna, marking a pivotal moment in its mission to make autonomous retail accessible worldwide. Located next to Mariahilferstraße, the city’s premier shopping street, the store represents a first-of-its-kind collaboration with CAMPO Group, the robotics and AI automation platform provider. Together, the two companies have created a showcase of how advanced automation and retail infrastructure can converge to transform the consumer experience.
The Vienna location brings Xpand’s modular “store-in-a-box” technology to the heart of Europe. The unmanned store offers a full convenience assortment of ambient, chilled, and frozen goods, all managed through AI, robotics, and real-time inventory tracking. Designed to operate 24/7 with zero staff, the store eliminates checkout lines, enables full loss prevention, and maximizes efficiency while delivering frictionless shopping at any time of day. This blueprint demonstrates how retailers can expand their footprint quickly and effectively without the costs and complexities of traditional staffing models.
“Opening our first international store in Vienna’s city center marks a pivotal moment in Xpand’s mission to bring autonomous, 24/7 retail to shoppers worldwide,” said Joel Bar-El, CEO of Xpand. “This store demonstrates how our AI-driven technology transforms the retail experience while maximizing operational efficiency. The Vienna store is only the beginning, and our leadership team is deeply committed to bringing scalable, autonomous retail to life.”
The launch comes on the heels of Xpand’s $6 million funding round led by Ibex Investors and Emerge, with additional participation from Xpand’s own leadership, including Chairman and CEO Joel Bar-El. The capital will fuel the company’s next phase of growth, funding store rollouts across Europe and North America while expanding its technology, sales, and marketing teams.
Founded in 2021 by Eyal Yair and Roee Tuval as 1MRobotics, the company rebranded to Xpand to reflect its evolution from research and development into global execution. With a leadership team that draws experience from SAP, Retalix, Bringg, Magic Leap, and Trax Retail—Bar-El’s previous venture and a retail AI unicorn—Xpand is uniquely positioned to lead the next wave of autonomous retail worldwide. The Vienna store stands not only as a milestone but also as a blueprint for how the future of shopping will unfold.
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