Berlin startup Plato has raised $14.5 million in seed funding, one of the biggest rounds in its field. Atomico led the round, joined by Cherry Ventures and new investors Discovery Ventures and Dieter Schwarz’s D11Z.
Plato tackles a mostly overlooked problem in global trade: the wholesale distribution sector. This sector manages one-fifth of global production but still relies on outdated software. Plato’s AI-based platform serves as an operating system for distributors, replacing scattered workflows with smart automation across sales, quoting, and ERP tasks.
Plato already works with top distribution companies, with average contracts over €100,000 and 90% software margins. The company wants to change how distribution businesses run by using automated, data-driven decisions.
Changing the way distribution works
Plato was founded in 2024 by Benedikt Nolte, Matthias Heinrich Morales, and Oliver Birch. The idea came from Nolte’s own experience in his family’s distribution business, where old systems and staff shortages held back growth.th.
Motivated by these challenges, the founders developed a vertical AI platform that combines deep industry expertise with advanced technology. Their mission is to create the essential AI operating system for trade, beginning in Germany and expanding globally.
Plato’s technology turns underused ERP data into actionable insights using AI agents specifically designed for distribution. Its Sales Intelligence tools identify customer opportunities and risks, while Process Automation reduces repetitive tasks across sales, order handling, and coordination. Unlike generic CRM or ERP systems, this product is made just for wholesalers.
Customers are already seeing results: up to 15% more revenue from smarter sales recommendations, five hours a week saved with automated ERP quoting, and sales efficiency boosted by a factor of ten thanks to AI-powered communication tools.
What sets Plato apart? Unlike broad tools like Salesforce or HubSpot, or even other vertical AI players like Cogram and Fermat, Plato plugs straight into distributor workflows and data. The result is faster adoption and bigger returns.
What about diversity?
Plato tells TFN that their team includes “17 employees / 8 Nationalities / 12% female ratio.”
So, what’s next for Plato?
After raising $14.5 million in seed funding, Plato plans to expand globally. It will start with its sales intelligence platform and later add customer service and procurement automation.
The company will also expand its product from sales across the value chain in wholesale as vertical software, build the digital backbone of the commerce industry in the EU, and land its first international customers in the EU & the US.
