Erste Bank has provided acquisition financing for a deal involving Austrian software company hello again and growth investor EMERAM. The financing supported the company used to acquire a significant voting stake in hello again, according to Erste Bank’s official transaction announcement in October 2026.
The deal brings EMERAM into hello again as an investor while the company’s founders and existing investors continue to hold shares. EMERAM plans to support the software company’s expansion into more European markets. Its investment announcement, dated September 29, 2026, outlines the partnership and its growth plans.
Founded in 2017, hello again develops software that helps businesses manage customer loyalty programs, offer rewards, and communicate with customers. Its platform also uses AI-based capabilities to support customer engagement and marketing. These applications are related to the wider use of AI predictive analytics, which can help businesses understand customer behavior and plan more relevant offers.
According to the hello again customer loyalty platform overview, more than 1,000 businesses across 28 countries use the company’s solutions. Its software offers loyalty apps, customer relationship management tools, and personalized communication features for industries including retail, restaurants, and other service businesses.
Erste Bank’s role in the transaction was to provide acquisition financing to the purchasing company. This means the financing supported the purchase of an ownership stake rather than representing a direct investment by the bank in developing an AI model. The bank’s announcement did not disclose the value of the financing.
The partnership is intended to help hello again expand its market position and develop its digital customer loyalty business. It also shows how financing for software companies can support businesses using artificial intelligence in practical services, such as customer communication and marketing. Readers interested in the wider technology can explore how AI is used in business.
The next stage will depend on how successfully hello again expands across Europe and develops its software offering. The companies have outlined their growth ambitions, but the announcement does not guarantee specific future revenue, customer numbers, or expansion results.
