Plato, a Berlin-based AI-based ERP automation platform for wholesale distributors, has secured $6.5 million in pre-seed funding. The round was led by Cherry Ventures (which recently invested in Voliro and Atlas Metrics), with additional backing from the German government and C-level angels from tech giants, including Microsoft, SAP, NVIDIA, Celonis, Personio, Sennder, and Forto.
The company is all set to transform the AI transformation of the $53 trillion global wholesale industry. The new funding will be used to expand Plato’s team and scale its product across multiple large customers with thousands of sales representatives.
What challenge does it tackle?
The global wholesale industry faces significant challenges, intensified by the current economic crisis, including labour shortages, increased competition, and the urgent need for digital transformation. Plato’s solution addresses these issues by enabling proactive sales, boosting efficiency, and facilitating growth.
Founded in 2023 by Benedikt Nolte, Matthias Heinrich, and Oliver Birch, the company enhances sales efficiency through AI-driven analytics and automation. By integrating with existing ERP systems, Plato helps businesses increase revenues, reduce inventory costs, and save 3-5 hours per employee per week through automated processes.
The company’s innovative platform integrates seamlessly with existing ERP systems, offering sales intelligence, AI-driven recommendations for cross-selling, up-selling, and churn prevention; and workflow automation of routine tasks such as quote and order creation, freeing up sales teams to focus on growth.
What does the company do?
Plato’s AI analyses thousands of customer signals, identifying sales opportunities and enabling teams to process up to 5x more information. By automating routine tasks, AI saves up to 20% of sellers’ time, increasing customer-facing activities by 65%. Companies can scale their operations with existing staff and onboard new employees faster. With its solution, wholesale distributors can look forward to more efficient processes, increased sales, reduced storage costs, heightened productivity, and a competitive edge in the rapidly evolving market.
Early adopters, like Layer Grosshandel, report significant improvements in sales operations and reduced manual tasks, validating the platform’s potential.
“Plato is the all-in-one platform where distribution sellers thrive,” said Benedikt Nolte, CEO of Plato. “We embed AI into daily workflows, turning reactive sales teams into proactive, data-driven sellers. Our solution transforms how distributors engage with their data and automate their processes, unlocking new levels of profitability for our clients.”
“Plato’s product aligns perfectly with Cherry’s core AI thesis of augmenting the modern workforce”, added Jasper Masemann, Partner at Cherry Ventures. “We spoke to countless teams across Europe, but only the exceptional team of Plato had the industry knowledge and technical capabilities to build a product for the massive market of wholesalers that will give them a decisive advantage over their peers. While Plato’s product vision is undoubtedly ambitious, we put our full capital commitment into them to support their growth into a long-term global leader and European success story.”
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