A Phoenix-based startup has landed a new round of funding to support nationwide expansion of its automated greeting card kiosks.
Ink’d Greetings recently closed a $1 million early-stage round. It was led by Hamid Shojaee of AZ Disruptors with participation by other undisclosed investors, a majority of whom are based in Arizona.
Ink’d, founded in 2023 by Sammi and Andrew Ekmark, creates automated, self-service kiosks that allow customers to customize and print greeting cards on-demand, choosing from a variety of designs and themes for special occasions. Customers also have an option to add a digital gift card with a QR code on the back of the greeting card.
Shojaee told AZ Inno the greeting card industry is ripe for disruption, leading to his decision to invest in Ink’d Greetings. Shojaee was also impressed by the Ekmarks' entrepreneurial drive and the company’s automated kiosks, he said.
In November, Ink’d Greetings placed its first kiosk in the Chandler Fashion Center. It also operates kiosks in Superstition Springs Mall and a 7-Eleven in north Phoenix.
“When I saw their prototype machine at Chandler (Fashion Center), I was sold. There should be tens of thousands of such kiosks all over the country,” Shojaee said in an email. “So it's just a matter of scaling what they have already built.”
Ink’d is using the infusion of capital to roll out its kiosks to more than 75 locations nationwide via pilot partnerships with 7-Eleven and Macerich Co., which owns Chandler Fashion Center and Biltmore Fashion Park.
“On the retailer front, we're actually rolling out to quite a few locations in the next few weeks,” Andrew Ekmark said. “At the end of the month, we’re going to be closing in on 20 locations. We’re growing the brand quite a bit.”
Ink'd Greetings in February entered an agreement with Pennsylvania Real Estate Investment Trust (OTC: PRET), which manages a large portfolio of malls concentrated on the East Coast, where it plans to roll out its kiosks. The company also plans to install kiosks at properties operated by Arizona State University, Grand Canyon University and Shea Homes. What's more, the company is in discussions with Home Depot and Big Lots to operate its kiosks at the retailers.
Ink’d has six employees, including chief commercial officer Ged Backland, who is the former head of humor for Hallmark and American Greetings, and creator of the popular “Aunty Acid” card designs.
Since its inception, the company has raised more than $2 million from investors and a crowdfunding campaign on StartEngine.
Most recently, Ink’d Greetings added software updates and a new line of cards to its automated kiosks. In addition, the company was among eight startups selected to participate in Stanford University’s StartX accelerator program over the summer. The program's alumni includes Lime, Patreon and Protocol Labs.
“We had a fantastic time at StartX,” Andrew Ekmark said. “We really enjoyed it.”
