Nesto, a Karlsruhe-based startup building AI software for workforce management in hospitality, has raised €11 mn in growth equity funding from Expedition Growth Capital. The company plans to use the capital to expand across Europe and continue investing in its product.
Founded in 2017, Nesto develops an AI-driven system that automates scheduling, HR workflows and payroll preparation for restaurant groups.
Co-founder and executive chairperson Dr Theodor Ackbarow said the platform is designed to handle the operational complexity restaurants deal with every day.
He said the goal is to absorb that complexity so operators can focus on decision-making. Expedition Growth Capital, he added, provides the support needed for the next phase of expansion.
We are deeply rooted in this industry and know first-hand how complex day-to-day life in restaurants and multi-location businesses can be. Our vision is to absorb this complexity through our platform and be a valuable companion to the operator, who can focus on making the final decision.
Dr Theodor Ackbarow, co-founder and Executive Chairperson of Nesto
“With Expedition, we have found the right partner to support the next chapter of our ambitious growth journey.”
Labour remains the largest controllable cost in hospitality. Many operators still rely on fragmented tools and manual processes, which slow decisions and increase administrative load. Nesto targets that gap with a single platform combining demand forecasting, workforce planning and execution.
At the centre of the system sits a proprietary forecasting engine. It predicts demand and staffing needs in real time by pulling data from point-of-sale systems, suppliers and payroll providers.
The platform then automates scheduling, HR processes and payroll preparation, while supporting managers with agent-based workflows.
According to the company, the system can improve labour productivity by up to 10% and reduce administrative workload.
Chief executive Felix Kaiser said the hospitality sector is entering a shift driven by AI, as operators deal with rising labour costs, staff shortages and growing complexity.
He described Nesto as a digital co-pilot for site managers, covering forecasting, shift planning and real-time operations. He said the platform allows teams to focus on service quality and guest experience.
The hospitality industry is at the beginning of a fundamental AI-driven shift – and operators are feeling it through rising labour costs, staff shortages, and growing complexity. Nesto acts as a digital co-pilot for site managers: from demand forecasting and shift planning to real-time operations.
Felix Kaiser, co-founder and CEO of Nesto
Nesto plans to use the new funding to expand its AI capabilities, strengthen its data platform and further develop NORA, its AI assistant and agent framework for operational and administrative workflows. The company will also accelerate entry into additional European markets.
The platform is already used in more than 3,000 restaurants and supports over 100,000 employees daily, from independent venues to large chains.
Customers include McDonald’s, L’Osteria and Lagardère. Nesto reached this scale without institutional funding prior to this round.
