- Funding Milestone: Keychain raised $15 million in a Series A round led by BoxGroup, with participation from General Mills, Schreiber Foods, and existing investors like Lightspeed Venture Partners, following an $18 million seed round last year.
- Platform Growth: The startup’s AI-powered search and discovery platform, now at scale, connects food and beverage brands with 20,000 manufacturers, using advanced data models to streamline sourcing and production.
- Expanded Capabilities: Keychain is evolving beyond matchmaking, offering end-to-end supply chain solutions, including onboarding, product management, contract negotiations, and future financing tools.
- Global Ambitions: Focused on the U.S., Keychain plans to expand into Canada, Mexico, and new categories like supplements and personal care, aiming to revolutionize global consumer goods manufacturing and trade.
Keychain, a New York-based startup that connects packaged goods companies and private-label retailers with manufacturing partners through its online platform, has raised $15 million in a Series A funding round led by BoxGroup.
The round also included new investors such as General Mills and Schreiber Foods, along with existing backers like Lightspeed Venture Partners and SV Angel.
This follows an $18 million seed round announced last year. The company’s first product—a search and discovery platform—is now operating at scale for U.S.-based food and beverage brands, manufacturers, and retailers, according to co-founder and CEO Oisin Hanrahan.
“Our platform has grown faster than we anticipated, and we’re excited to enhance it with AI-powered tools to help brands and retailers bring products to market more efficiently,” Hanrahan said. He added that expansions into new categories and geographies are on the horizon.
20,000 Manufacturers Indexed in 8 Months
Keychain aims to modernize how brands find co-manufacturers, moving beyond traditional methods like trade shows and consultants. The platform uses AI to analyze over a million SKUs, identifying manufacturers equipped to produce specific products.
For example, Hanrahan explained, “If you’re sourcing trail mix, our AI determines the necessary processing and packaging equipment and connects you to the right manufacturers out of the 20,000 on our platform. You can filter by certifications or location.”
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Keychain has also developed proprietary data models that enrich its database through automated online data collection, manual research, and partnerships with equipment sellers, enabling comprehensive manufacturer profiles.
More Than Matchmaking: End-to-End Supply Chain Support
While Keychain’s initial focus is on search and discovery, the platform is evolving into a full-stack solution for supply chain workflows, including onboarding, product specification management, contract negotiations, and even financing.
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“We’re creating an ecosystem that spans the entire supply chain,” Hanrahan said. “Eventually, every workflow—from ingredient sourcing to packaging approvals—will have its own marketplace within the platform.”
Scaling for Global Impact
Currently focused on the U.S. food and beverage sector, Keychain is preparing to expand into Canada, Mexico, and beyond. It also plans to cover additional categories like supplements, pet care, and personal care products.
David Tisch, managing partner at BoxGroup, highlighted Keychain’s transformative potential: “Keychain is not just organizing domestic manufacturing; it’s positioned to shape global trade in CPG, from food imports and exports to packaging innovations. The strategic opportunities are enormous.”
With over 10,000 brands and retailers already engaged, Keychain’s rapid growth is fostering a “virtuous cycle,” as more manufacturers join to leverage its extensive network, accelerating the evolution of contract manufacturing in the consumer goods industry.
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