Zippin
Zippin provides AI-powered computer vision and sensor fusion technology that enables checkout-free retail in sports venues, airports, college campuses, theme parks, hospitals, and workplaces, monetizing through annual software subscriptions, hardware, and implementation services via direct sales and major food service channel partners.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2017
- HeadquartersSan Francisco, United States
- Headcount101–250
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingSoftware
What Zippin does
Zippin (legal entity Vcognition Technologies, Inc) is a US-based provider of AI-powered checkout-free retail technology founded in 2017 and headquartered in Mill Valley, California. The company's platform uses overhead computer vision, sensor fusion, and machine learning to track shoppers and the items they select, enabling entirely cashierless transactions where customers enter with a payment method, take items, and are charged automatically on exit. Zippin packages this capability into a modular product suite — Zippin Walk-Up for hot food concession stands, Zippin Lane for turnkey high-throughput stores, Zippin Retrofits for existing retail environments, Zippin Outdoors for temporary structures and outdoor venues, and Zippin Micromarket Lite for small-format sites — supported by the Zippin Gateway API and integrations with campus cards, facial-recognition identity verification (IDmission), pour-by-the-ounce beverage tracking (DraftServ BevOS), and payment processors (Planet).
Zippin sells primarily to enterprise customers in sports & entertainment venues (NFL, NBA, MLB, NHL, MLS stadiums and arenas), airport retail (SSP Group deployments at Dublin, Oslo, DFW, JFK, SJU), college campuses (Towson, UNLV, Carleton), theme parks (LEGOLAND Windsor, Cirque du Soleil), hospitals (Houston Methodist Cypress), and corporate workplaces (SAP Bangalore, St Micro Electronics Crolles). Distribution runs through direct enterprise sales and channel partners including Aramark Sports + Entertainment, Compass Group, Levy, Legends, Oak View Group, Delaware North, and SSP Group. The revenue model combines annual software license subscriptions, hardware procurement and installation services, technical support packages, and one-time implementation fees per location, governed by multi-year contracts with annual renewal mechanics.
The company has reported quantifiable customer outcomes including 67% higher daily sales at Retrofit stores, 78–85% revenue uplift at Zippin Lane venues, 78% revenue growth at Allegiant Stadium, >90% conversion at airport stores, and labor cost reductions of up to 25%. Zippin has raised approximately $44M in disclosed funding (a $2M seed in 2018, $12M Series B in 2019, and $30M Series B extension in 2021) and operates with 101–250 employees across the United States, Europe, Latin America, and India. The company has received ongoing recognition from Sports Business Journal, including a 2023 Best Innovation win and finalist nominations every year since 2022.
Zippin firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Zippin
- Legal name
- Vcognition Technologies, Inc dba Zippin
- Website
- https://getzippin.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2017
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 101–250 employees
- Short description
- Zippin provides AI-powered computer vision and sensor fusion technology that enables checkout-free retail in sports venues, airports, college campuses, theme parks, hospitals, and workplaces, monetizing through annual software subscriptions, hardware, and implementation services via direct sales and major food service channel partners.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Zippin industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Checkout-Free Retail Technology
- NAICS
- Web Search Portals and All Other Information Services (519290)
- SIC
- Retail-Computer & Computer Software Stores (5734)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Omnichannel Commerce & Click-and-Collect Platforms (BPAMAGAL)
Keywords
Where Zippin is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- San Francisco
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Zippin business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Software
- Cost components
- Technology or R&D, Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Supply Chain
Revenue model
- Software Licensing: Zippin licenses its proprietary Checkout-Free Shopping Platform software to retailers. License fees are paid annually in advance and are specified in Order Forms. Includes access to Zippin Dashboard for store management.
- Equipment Services: Procurement, installation, maintenance and repair of checkout-free store equipment. Can be provided by Zippin or managed by retailers with Zippin's support.
- Technical Support Services: Ongoing technical support and maintenance services provided through Support Packages. Additional training beyond initial onboarding is charged at then-current rates.
- Implementation Fees: One-time implementation fees for each Location, payable as part of Software Services Fees. Includes initial onboarding and introductory training.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Annual | Custom enterprise pricing based on Order Forms |
| Other | Multi-year contract | Equipment and implementation costs |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels5 records
Zippin product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Zippin provides an AI-powered checkout-free shopping platform that uses computer vision, sensor fusion, and machine learning to enable retailers and venue operators to deploy frictionless, cashierless stores. The platform tracks shopper movements and item selections automatically, allowing customers to enter with a payment method, take items, and exit without traditional checkout. Zippin offers multiple store-format solutions (Walk-Up, Lane, Retrofits, Outdoors, Micromarket Lite) plus integration via its Zippin Gateway API.
Product overview
Zippin offers a modular checkout-free retail platform consisting of multiple product lines: Zippin Walk-Up for revitalizing hot food stands, Zippin Lane for turnkey high-speed stores, Zippin Retrofits for customized deployments in any retail environment, Zippin Outdoors for outdoor and temporary structures, and Zippin Micromarket Lite for micro-market formats. All products are powered by a unified AI-driven platform using machine learning and sensor fusion technology that enables completely autonomous shopping without cashiers or checkout processes.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Zippin Walk-Up: Checkout-free solution for hot food concession stands and food courts
- Zippin Lane
- Zippin Retrofits
- Zippin Outdoors
- Zippin Micromarket Lite
Products and services
- Zippin Walk-Up Checkout-free solution designed to revitalize existing hot food concession stands and food courts, transforming traditional food service locations into automated retail experiences for sports venues and entertainment operators.
- Zippin Lane Turnkey checkout-free store designed for maximum throughput in new high-traffic locations, ideal for drink markets. Configurable in sizes from 8' x 12' to 10' x 60', with camera-only and structureless models available for faster deployment.
- Zippin Retrofits Customized checkout-free technology deployment designed for unique spaces, SKUs, and business goals. Available in computer vision-only or computer vision with sensors configurations; ideal for college campuses, hospitals, micro-markets, and convenience stores operating 24/7 autonomously.
- Zippin Outdoors Checkout-free solution that converts any tent, container, or outside structure into a checkout-free experience. The technology can be added to existing structures with installations often completed in just a few days.
- Zippin Micromarket Lite Compact checkout-free solution designed for micro-market environments, offering streamlined shopping experience in smaller footprint retail locations such as office break rooms and small unmanned stores.
- Zippin Checkout-Free Shopping Platform AI-powered underlying software platform combining machine learning and sensor fusion that powers all Zippin store formats. Includes the Zippin Dashboard for store management and Zippin Gateway API for integration with payment gateways, campus cards, loyalty programs, and third-party systems.
Quantifiable outcome
- Reduces shopping time from 20 minutes to approximately 30 seconds
- +9 more outcomes
Companies that use Zippin
Customer profileNamed customers24 records
Segments7 records
Ideal customer profiles5 records
Zippin technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- Yes
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration6 records
AI capability7 records
Feature10 records
Zippin partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core.
- Aramark Sports + EntertainmentcoreAramark SE is a major food service operator that has deployed Zippin checkout-free technology at multiple venues including NRG Stadium, Empower Field at Mile High, and Capital One Arena. Aramark operates concessions at hundreds of sports venues.
- DraftServcoreDraftServ partnered with Zippin and GS Draft to create the world's first checkout-free, self-serve draft beer and cocktail experience. DraftServ's BevOS technology manages self-pouring beer walls and tracks exactly what was poured by the ounce, passing data back to Zippin for final purchase amount calculation.
- Atrium CampuscoreZippin partnered with Atrium Campus to enable campus card payments at checkout-free stores. At Towson University, this integration allows students, faculty, and staff to shop with campus cards including Doc Dollars and Dining Dollars without requiring a mobile app.
- SSP GroupcoreSSP Group (Selected Standard Products) introduced Zippin's checkout-free technology at Dublin Airport and Oslo Airport, operating frictionless stores for travelers. SSP is a major international food service operator.
- IDmissioncoreZippin partnered with IDmission to pilot digital Identity Verification at Empower Field at Mile High. IDmission delivers facial recognition technology that allows enrolled customers to use a facial scan instead of credit card or QR code to enter, verifying age and payment method simultaneously.
- Compass GroupcoreCompass Group is a major international food service company. Through subsidiary Levy, they offer Zippin-powered checkout-free solutions at managed sports and entertainment venues.
- LevycoreLevy (part of Compass Group) is a premium sports and entertainment food service operator that deploys Zippin checkout-free technology at venues including Allegiant Stadium.
- LegendscoreLegends is a hospitality and retail management company that partners with Zippin to provide checkout-free retail solutions at sports venues.
- Oak View Group (OVG)coreOak View Group develops and operates sports and entertainment venues globally, partnering with Zippin for checkout-free retail solutions.
- Delaware NorthcoreDelaware North is a hospitality and entertainment company operating food service and retail at sports venues, airports, and other locations, partnering with Zippin for checkout-free technology.
- Lojas AmericanascoreBrazilian retailer Lojas Americanas partnered with Zippin to implement checkout-free technology in Ame Go convenience stores. First store opened in Rio with plans to expand to Sao Paulo high-traffic areas.
- Puente Enterprises Inc.corePuente Enterprises operates the Zippin-powered store at Dallas Fort Worth International Airport, the largest in Terminal C with over 1,000 products and 47% transaction increase.
Scale indicators15 records
Recent moves8 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Zippin competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Diebold Nixdorf:
- Amazon (Amazon Go / Amazon Fresh): Amazon operates the original large-scale checkout-free store format (Amazon Go, now Amazon Fresh) using a camera + sensor-fusion ceiling grid similar in principle to Zippin's. It is the highest-profile reference point in the category and a deep-pocketed competitor, though its deployment focus has been its own retail footprint rather than licensing the platform to third-party operators.
- NCR Voyix: NCR Voyix is a long-established retail technology and POS incumbent serving grocers, convenience stores, and hospitality operators. Its broad retail-tech footprint makes it a competitor and potential partner as legacy retailers evaluate checkout-free upgrades alongside existing POS infrastructure.
- Toshiba Global Commerce Solutions: Toshiba Global Commerce Solutions is a major provider of retail POS, self-checkout, and in-store technology to grocers and big-box retailers. It is a broad incumbent whose self-checkout and store-automation portfolio overlaps conceptually with Zippin's checkout-free proposition for large enterprise retailers.
Direct peers
- Standard AI: Standard AI (formerly Standard Cognition) is a direct checkout-free retail competitor using overhead computer vision to enable grab-and-go shopping. It targets similar enterprise retail and venue customers and has raised materially more capital than Zippin, making it the most head-to-head competitor in third-party venue deployments.
- Trigo: Trigo builds a ceiling-mounted computer-vision and sensor-fusion platform for checkout-free grocery and retail stores, with strong traction among European grocers. It is the closest international competitor to Zippin, particularly relevant as Zippin expands into European airports and theme parks.
- AiFi: AiFi provides a camera-only AI checkout-free platform targeting retailers, stadiums, airports, and convenience stores. It overlaps directly with Zippin across multiple verticals and competes for the same enterprise pilots in venues and c-stores.
- Grabango: Grabango sells a checkout-free retrofit platform to existing grocery and convenience retailers using computer vision and shelf sensors. It is a direct competitor to Zippin's Retrofit product line, particularly in the grocery and c-store verticals.
- Sensei Tech: Sensei is a Portugal-headquartered checkout-free retail platform focused primarily on European grocery and convenience deployments. It overlaps with Zippin's computer-vision-first approach and represents a regional competitor in Europe, where Zippin is also expanding via SSP Group partnerships.
Emerging players
- Caper AI (Instacart): Caper AI builds AI-powered smart carts and checkout counters for grocery and c-store retailers; acquired by Instacart in 2021. It is an adjacent, partially overlapping approach (cart-based rather than ceiling-based) to the same end-market problem Zippin addresses.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat6 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Zippin social profiles
Digital presenceZippin compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance4 records
Zippin financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Zippin leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles9 records
Zippin funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds3 records
Investors12 records
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Zippin M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Zippin
What does Zippin do?
Zippin provides an AI-powered checkout-free shopping platform that uses computer vision, sensor fusion, and machine learning to enable retailers and venue operators to deploy frictionless, cashierless stores. The platform tracks shopper movements and item selections automatically, allowing customers to enter with a payment method, take items, and exit without traditional checkout. Zippin offers multiple store-format solutions (Walk-Up, Lane, Retrofits, Outdoors, Micromarket Lite) plus integration via its Zippin Gateway API.
Is Zippin a public or private company?
Zippin is a private company. It is classified as venture growth investor backed and is currently operating.
When was Zippin founded?
Zippin was founded in 2017. It employs 101 to 250 people.
Where is Zippin based?
Zippin is headquartered in San Francisco, United States, in the North America region.
How does Zippin make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Software Licensing is the primary driver. The others are equipment Services, technical Support Services and implementation Fees.
Who are Zippin's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Diebold Nixdorf, Amazon (Amazon Go / Amazon Fresh), NCR Voyix and Toshiba Global Commerce Solutions. Direct peers are Standard AI, Trigo, AiFi, Grabango and Sensei Tech. Caper AI (Instacart) is listed as an emerging player.
Does Zippin have an API?
Yes. Zippin Gateway is an API framework that enables retailers to integrate new capabilities and enhancements to the checkout-free shopping platform. It allows integration with existing systems including payment gateways, inventory management, campus card providers, loyalty programs, employee IDs, sports team mobile apps, and other custom check-in experiences. The API framework facilitates connections with third-party technology partners like DraftServ's BevOS for self-pouring beer tracking and Planet's payment processing technology.
What industry is Zippin in?
Zippin's product category is Checkout-Free Retail Technology. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAMAGAL, Omnichannel Commerce & Click-and-Collect Platforms. Its NAICS code is 519290 and its SIC code is 5734.