What Translucent does

Translucent, LLC is a privately held, family-owned general contractor specializing in the design, construction, stocking, and launch of self-service retail markets (micro markets). Founded in 2017 in Blue Springs / Kansas City, Missouri, the company serves operators, military exchanges, and retail organizations as a single accountable partner managing the full lifecycle of an unstaffed retail environment—from initial buildout and design through commerce technology integration, product stocking, and ongoing operational support. The firm is led by co-founders Patty Closser (CEO) and Steve Closser (CIO, a 30-year foodservice veteran and former Founding Partner of Elite Cuisine), with Patrick Closser serving as CFO. Translucent's most prominent customer is the United States Coast Guard Exchange (CGX), for which it developed a branded 24/7 micro-market program beginning in 2018.

The company's product portfolio centers on the Self-Service Market Setup service, which encompasses commercial buildouts, unstaffed retail market development, integrated technology solutions, end-to-end project management, and turnkey space activation, delivered alongside an Operations Support Partnership for ongoing coaching and technology support. Named solution offerings include 365 Dining (in partnership with 365 Retail Markets since 2008), Residential Living market setups for apartment and hotel properties, and the CGX-branded market program. The most technology-intensive product is the patent-pending PicoCooler Vision with Ambient Cabinet, an AI-powered computer-vision system enabling frictionless grab-and-go checkout across refrigerated and ambient SKUs in a single payment transaction. Translucent is a Women-Owned Small Business (WBENC-certified), SAM.gov registered, and a GSA-registered contractor, positioning it to compete for federal and military exchange procurement.

Translucent makes money primarily through professional services and managed-services revenue: project-based, quote-driven fees for turnkey market setup engagements, supplemented by ongoing operations support and business-coaching retainers. Go-to-market is sales-led and direct, combining a professional website, LinkedIn presence, industry PR (notably Vending Marketwatch), and direct referral through its technology partner ecosystem (365 Retail Markets, Fixturelite, Impulsify, Panoptyc, Vistar, NAMA). The company is privately financed with no disclosed external funding and maintains full family ownership and control. Cumulative operational footprint since the 2008 partnership with 365 Retail Markets includes 1,000+ markets built and 10,000+ kiosks installed.

Name

Translucent

Legal name

Translucent, LLC

Website

https://translucentllc.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2017

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Translucent is a family-owned Kansas City general contractor that designs, builds, and launches self-service micro markets for operators, military exchanges (notably the U.S. Coast Guard Exchange), and residential and hospitality properties, with a patent-pending AI computer-vision checkout product.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Blue Springs

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. General Contractor Services: Technology-driven general contractor providing turnkey market setup services including commercial buildouts, unstaffed retail market development, corporate food service environments, integrated technology solutions, end-to-end project management, and turnkey space activation.
2. Market Setup and Installation: Database coordination with kiosk providers, store setup, layout, purchasing, stocking, self-checkout technology installation, and on-site coaching.
3. Operations Support Partnership: Ongoing support for technology and other market issues after grand opening. Brand development, marketing strategy, coaching, and operational support services.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Translucent is a technology-driven general contractor that designs, builds, stocks, and launches self-service retail markets (micro markets). It provides turnkey market setup services including commercial buildouts, unstaffed retail market development, integrated self-checkout technology installation, end-to-end project management, turnkey space activation, and ongoing operations support. The company also offers a patent-pending AI-powered frictionless checkout product, the PicoCooler Vision + Ambient Cabinet.

Product overview

Translucent is a technology-driven general contractor offering a portfolio of services centered on designing, building, stocking, and launching self-service retail markets (micro markets). The core offering is the Self-Service Market Setup service, which encompasses commercial buildouts, unstaffed retail market development, integrated technology solutions, end-to-end project management, and turnkey space activation. These foundational services are delivered alongside an Operations Support Partnership providing ongoing coaching and technology support. Translucent's portfolio includes several named project/solution offerings: 365 Dining (in partnership with 365 Retail Markets since 2008), Residential Living market setups for apartments and hotels, and the Coast Guard Exchange (CGX) branded market program. The most technology-specific product is the PicoCooler Vision + Ambient Cabinet—a computer vision AI-powered frictionless checkout solution for refrigerated and ambient products. The company positions itself as a single accountable partner from concept to launch.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Self-Service Market Setup Services Turnkey market setup service that manages the full lifecycle of self-service retail market development, from database coordination with kiosk providers to store setup, layout, purchasing, stocking, self-checkout technology installation, and on-site coaching through grand opening. Built for operators and retail organizations.
• Commercial Buildouts End-to-end commercial space development service managing all phases from concept to launch, creating fully integrated environments that are operational and business-ready from day one.
• Unstaffed Retail Market Development Specialized development service for unstaffed retail markets and corporate food service environments, delivering fully integrated spaces that combine construction, design, and commerce technology.
• Operations Support Partnership Ongoing operational support services including technology support, brand development, marketing strategy, coaching, and operational support to ensure long-term market success.
• 365 Dining Solutions Integrated micro market and dining solutions developed in partnership with 365 Retail Markets, including advanced dining solutions and order-ahead technology.
• Residential Living Market Setup Customized market setup services for apartment communities, residential properties, and hotels, including design customization, project management, buildout, and product stocking.
• Coast Guard Exchange (CGX) Markets

Quantifiable outcome

• 1,000+ Markets Built and 10,000+ Kiosks Installed

Named customers1 record

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• 365 Retail MarketscoreTechnology or Integration · 1 January 2008Strategic partnership began in 2008 at the emergence of micro markets. Relationship evolved to include advanced dining solutions and order-ahead technology. Translucent provides expertise in installation, solution development, and menu optimization to help clients drive operational success and maximize revenue growth.
• VistarminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorDistribution partner for vending and convenience services equipment and supplies.
• NAMA (National Automatic Merchandising Association)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerIndustry association partner supporting the automatic merchandising and food service industry.
• United States Coast Guard ExchangecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership began in 2018 to develop cohesive 'brand look and feel' for CGX Markets and provide 24/7 service to Coast Guard personnel. Translucent developed identity and presence enhancement while supporting those who serve.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Cantaloupe, Inc. Public unattended retail technology provider (formerly USA Technologies) offering cashless payments, telemetry, and micro market management software across the vending and micro market ecosystem, broadly competing with the technology layers Translucent integrates.
• Nayax: Global provider of cashless payment and telemetry for unattended retail, including micro markets and self-checkout. Comparable to the payment and management software pieces of Translucent's technology stack.
• Canteen (Compass Group): Largest US vending and micro market operator under Compass Group, operating self-service retail environments end-to-end — a potential end-customer and strategic alternative to Translucent's integration services for large operators.

Emerging players

• Zippin: Provider of AI-powered, computer-vision frictionless checkout technology for retail, conceptually overlapping Translucent's patent-pending PicoCooler Vision offering in the grab-and-go checkout category.
• Trigo: Computer-vision based checkout automation platform for grocery and retail, comparable to Translucent's PicoCooler Vision ambitions but operating at a larger scale and with significant venture funding.
• Standard AI: Computer-vision platform enabling frictionless checkout in physical retail, a more capital-intensive peer to Translucent's PicoCooler Vision AI checkout technology in the same conceptual category.

Direct peers

• 365 Retail Markets: Leading provider of micro market and self-service kiosk technology and a Core strategic partner of Translucent since 2008. Translucent serves as its preferred implementation/integration arm, making it the closest comparable in the self-service retail market stack.
• Parlevel Systems: Provides micro market management, route operations, and consumer-facing applications for vending and micro market operators — overlapping Translucent's operator-customer software and tooling needs.
• Avanti Markets: Operates a micro market and self-service retail platform for workplace break rooms, directly overlapping Translucent's core end-customer use case of unstaffed retail market deployment.

Others

• Fixtolite (Fixturelite): Listed as a Translucent technology partner providing fixture solutions for self-service retail markets. Adjacent ecosystem player rather than direct competitor, but participates in the same supply chain Translucent orchestrates.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/translucentllc

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Translucent