Keepoala raises mid-six-figure amount

The start-up has developed a reward system for customers who do not return goods to their suppliers. The start-up wants to use the money to improve its software and user experience.

The Munich-based start-up Keepoala has received a mid-six-figure sum from business angels from the fashion industry in a pre-seed financing round. The exact amount and who invested is not known. The start-up had previously financed itself from its own resources.

Sebastian Engel-Wolf, Eik Lämmerhirt and former Flixbus manager Tjark Metzner founded Keepoala in Munich in 2021. In November last year, the Keepoala app was launched with a loyalty program for online fashion stores. Users receive points when they order fashion online and do not return it. If they do return the ordered clothing, they can specify the exact reasons for the return on Keepoala. They also receive points for this - because the online stores can use the data obtained to adapt their products and product descriptions in order to avoid further incorrect orders.

Other environmentally friendly behaviors will also be rewarded. "Thanks to the new app features, Keepoala users will not only collect points for avoiding returns in the future, but also for other CO2-saving actions such as using sustainable reusable to-go solutions or scanning public transport job tickets," says Keepoala co-founder Eik Lämmerhirt.

The start-up intends to use the money from the financing round to improve its software and user experience and to further expand its team. Keepoala also plans to quadruple the number of emissions and packaging waste saved by the end of this year. To achieve this, the start-up wants to enter into further partnerships with online stores and increase its user base. So far, the start-up has worked with online stores such as Erlich Textil, Wunderwerk and Loveco.