Dutch beer vending startup BeerMate bag €1.4M to scale operations; eyes US expansion in 2025

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s-Hertogenbosch, the Netherlands-based BeerMate, a manufacturer of automatic beer machines, announced that it has raised €1.4M from various investors, including Michiel Beers, the founder of Tomorrowland. 

The investment, which features an undisclosed equity stake, is intended to fuel the startup’s growth and scale-up operations, reports Quotenet.nl.

BeerMate: The bar of the future

Founded by Ralph Bethlem, BeerMate manufactures self-contained automated bars that can pour and dispense multiple drinks simultaneously within 10 seconds (Coronaproof) without human intervention.

The essence of BeerMate is to solve problems surrounding beverage sales in the current situation of the hospitality and event industry. It is done by automating the pouring and dispensing process through a unique, innovative machine that can serve various drinks in cups quickly, cheaply, and without waste.

The system is integrated into a mobile container, housing a vending machine capable of connecting to either 500-liter tanks or a truck containing thousands of litres of beer.

To date, BeerMate has collaborated with various high-profile events such as Paaspop, Tomorrowland, and Formula 1 in Zandvoort. 

Although the initial plan was to have nine operational containers by this summer, Ralph Bethlem encountered some setbacks. 

Therefore, the recently acquired funding will primarily be invested in further machine development and expansion. 

Future iterations and growth

Future iterations of the machines will be designed to accommodate plastic cups and handle deposits. 

BeerMate’s technology offers market opportunities in terms of automation, cost savings, sustainability, safety, digitisation, and data generalisation. 

In addition, it can reduce pressure on the current bar, giving visitors a better experience and increasing beverage turnover.

The company aims to extend its operations into the US market by 2025. 

BeerMate was one of the six finalists in the ADE & Antler Startup Competition

Vigneshwar Ravichandran

Vigneshwar has been a News Reporter at Silicon Canals since 2018. A seasoned technology journalist with almost a decade of experience, he covers the European startup ecosystem, from AI and Web3 to clean energy and health tech. Previously, he was a content producer and consumer product reviewer for leading Indian digital media, including NDTV, GizBot, and FoneArena. He graduated with a Bachelor's degree in Electronics and Instrumentation in Chennai and a Diploma in Broadcasting Journalism in New Delhi.

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