Wayne-based SEMCAP AI led an $8 million Series A round for Lula Commerce, a Philadelphia startup that is planning to accelerate the growth of its e-commerce platform aimed at the convenience store industry, writes Ryan Mulligan for the Philadelphia Business Journal.
Along with SEMCAP AI, Ben Franklin Technology Partners’ GO PA Fund and several out-of-town venture capital firms joined the round, bringing Lula’s total funding to $16 million. The raise comes as many Philadelphia-area tech startups face a broader slowdown in fundraising.
Lula co-founder Adit Gupta said the round marks a “meaningful markup” from the company’s $5.5 million seed valuation, though he declined to share the exact figure.
Lula Commerce’s platform helps convenience store operators manage inventory, sell products through delivery apps, and build customer loyalty programs.
Gupta and Tom Falzani, both graduates of Drexel University, founded the company during the pandemic after Gupta’s parents were forced to close their convenience store because they had no way to reach customers online.
Several years later, the startup now counts Circle K, United Pacific, and Jacksons Food Stores among its clients.
Read more about SEMCAP AI helping with Philly startup Lula Commerce in the Philadelphia Business Journal.
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Editor’s Note: This post was originally published on VISTA.Today in November 2025.
