Emilia AI Raises $1.5M Pre-Seed Led by Prosus Ventures

Emilia AI Secures $1.5M Pre-Seed Round

Emilia AI, a San Francisco-based startup building an AI layer on top of existing restaurant security cameras, has raised $1.5 million in pre-seed funding. The round was led by Prosus Ventures.

What Emilia AI Does

Emilia AI pairs video analytics with point-of-sale data to run real-time agents for restaurants. The company's platform includes two core products:

• Coach — an agent that coaches service staff to sell more.
• Sentinel — an agent that flags theft and fraud, such as dishes leaving the kitchen without being rung up.

The company's approach is designed to work with the security cameras restaurants already have, rather than requiring new hardware.

Founding Team and Market Focus

Emilia AI was founded in 2024 by Colombian entrepreneurs Andres Cajiao (CEO) and Sebastian Rojo (CTO). The startup is headquartered in San Francisco, with Brazil as its main market.

According to the company, it is targeting the restaurant sector's chronic staff turnover and aims to help owners recover lost revenue.

Funding Details

• Round type: Pre-Seed
• Amount raised: $1.5 million USD
• Announced date: September 14, 2026
• Lead investor: Prosus Ventures

Why It Matters

The pre-seed round gives Emilia AI capital to develop its AI agents for restaurants at a time when operators are looking for ways to improve sales and reduce shrinkage without adding hardware. By layering analytics on top of existing cameras and connecting them to point-of-sale data, the company is positioning itself at the intersection of video intelligence and restaurant operations.

With Brazil as its primary market and a founding team with Colombian roots, Emilia AI is focused on a region where restaurant staff turnover is a persistent challenge. The backing from Prosus Ventures provides both capital and a lead investor as the company works to scale its real-time agents.

What's Next

Emilia AI has not disclosed specific product roadmap or expansion plans beyond the funding announcement. The company's stated focus remains on helping restaurant owners recover lost revenue and improve staff performance through its Coach and Sentinel agents.