Keychain is a company that has developed a proprietary AI-powered platform that helps brands and retailers quickly find the perfect manufacturing partners. Pulse 2.0 interviewed Keychain co-founder and CEO Oisin Hanrahan to gain a deeper understanding of the company.
Oisin Hanrahan’s Background
Could you tell me more about your background? Hanrahan said:
“I’ve spent my career building platforms that simplify fragmented, outdated industries. At Handy and later as CEO of Angi, we reimagined the home services market — creating more transparency, speed, and trust for both customers and professionals.”
“Now at Keychain, I’m applying that same approach to the CPG supply chain, which is still full of friction. We’ve built Keychain as a modern infrastructure layer that brings together market research, product development, and manufacturing into one intelligent system. Where companies like Nielsen, Circana, SPS Commerce, and Jaggaer each individually cover a piece of the puzzle, Keychain brings it all into one connected platform.”
Formation Of The Company
How did the idea for the company come together? Hanrahan shared:
“We saw a major disconnect: brands were still relying on outdated methods — brokers, trade shows, cold calls — to find manufacturers, while those same manufacturers were often sitting on unused capacity, invisible to the brands they could actually serve.”
“We realized there was a clear opportunity to modernize and streamline that connection point. That’s what Keychain is built to do — we act as the connective tissue between demand and production. While platforms like Nielsen and Circana specialize in insight, and companies like SPS Commerce and Jaggaer focus on execution, we bridge the gap between the two — turning intent and research into production-ready outcomes.”
“By using AI to match brands with the right manufacturers instantly, we’re removing friction from the CPG supply chain and making it easier for both sides to move faster and smarter.”
Core Products
What are the company’s core products and features? Hanrahan explained:
“Keychain is an AI-powered sourcing and product development platform for CPG brands. Our core engine matches brands with manufacturers, packaging, and ingredient partners based on real-time data — everything from production capacity and certifications to pricing and lead times.”
“What sets us apart is how we unify three historically siloed functions: market research, product development, and supply chain execution. Most platforms focus on one piece of the puzzle — we connect them all, giving brands a clear path from consumer insight to shelf-ready product in a single workflow.”
“We’re not replacing legacy tools — we’re extending their value by turning insight into action. And with new features that support everything from packaging to ingredients, we’re helping brands go from idea to execution faster, with fewer intermediaries and more transparency.”
Challenges Faced
Have you faced any challenges in your sector of work recently? Hanrahan acknowledged:
“One of the biggest challenges in CPG right now is staying agile in the face of constant disruption — whether it’s tariffs, labor shortages, or geopolitical uncertainty. Historically, brands have relied on outdated data and slow-moving processes, which just doesn’t cut it anymore.”
“Keychain was built to change that. We make sourcing and manufacturing data accessible in real time, so brands can respond quickly. After the recent tariff changes, for example, we saw an 84% spike in searches filtered for U.S.-only production — not over months, but within weeks. That kind of insight doesn’t just help brands adapt; it reveals new market patterns and opportunities.”
“By turning supply chain data into action, we’re helping brands minimize disruption and make faster, smarter decisions.”
Evolution Of The Company’s Technology
How has the company’s technology evolved since launching? Hanrahan noted:
“We started Keychain as a smarter way to find manufacturers — removing friction from a process that was still driven by brokers, spreadsheets, and static directories. Since then, we’ve grown into a full-cycle product development platform used by over 20,000 brands and retailers and 30,000 manufacturers, facilitating more than $1 billion in sourcing activity every month.”
“What’s really differentiated us is how our AI continues to learn from every project on the platform — tracking things like pricing trends, production timelines, and capacity shifts in real time. That intelligence doesn’t exist in traditional procurement systems, and it gives our partners a major edge in speed and decision-making.”
“We’ve also expanded into packaging and ingredients, so brands can move from concept to shelf more efficiently — all within one system. With every new search and every new brand, the platform gets smarter, helping users navigate uncertainty with data instead of guesswork.”
Significant Milestones
What have been some of the company’s most significant milestones? Hanrahan cited:
“Keychain has scaled rapidly – raising $78 million from top-tier VCs and CPG leaders like General Mills and The Hershey Company. We’ve launched new verticals in packaging and ingredients, expanded our global manufacturer network, and introduced and AI-powered tool that helps brands go from concept to production at record speed.”
“But perhaps most importantly, we’ve positioned ourselves at the convergence of insight, sourcing, and execution – an intersection that traditional research, procurement, or supply platforms haven’t yet captured holistically.”
Funding
When asking Hanrahan about the company’s funding, he revealed
“While we can’t share specific revenue figures, I can say that we’ve raised a total of $78 million, from a mix of top venture firms and strategic CPG investors, and we currently facilitate over $1 billion in sourcing activity monthly.”
“That scale translates into highly valuable behavioral and operational data – exactly the kind of signal that legacy players could harness to future-proof their platforms.”
Differentiation From The Competition
What differentiates the company from its competition? Hanrahan affirmed:
“We’re not just another procurement tool. Keychain is building a new category — one where AI, data, and manufacturing intelligence converge to streamline the entire CPG product development cycle.”
“Traditional platforms operate in silos: Nielsen and Circana focus on consumer insight, SPS Commerce and Jaggaer handle supply chain execution. Keychain brings those worlds together. We help brands go from signal to shelf — not just finding a manufacturer, but designing, sourcing, and launching products with the speed and precision of a software company.”
“What sets us apart is the live feedback loop we create between product vision and production reality. Our AI-driven platform offers real-time, actionable data that eliminates the need for brokers, shortens timelines, and ensures brands are matched with the right partners instantly. That’s not just more efficient — it’s a fundamental shift in how CPG products get made.”
Future Company Goals
What are some of the company’s future goals? Hanrahan emphasized:
“We’re focused on expanding Keychain’s impact across the entire product development lifecycle — from early-stage planning to full-scale execution. That means helping brands make smarter decisions earlier, whether it’s identifying emerging trends, refining pricing, or forecasting demand with more accuracy.”
“We recently announced a new Dublin hub so we can better serve European markets directly, helping brands and manufacturers bring products to market faster while strengthening supply chains in Ireland and beyond.”
“We’re set to further grow our global manufacturing network, expand into new verticals, and continue to improve how brands source packaging, ingredients, and production — all in one place. The goal is to build a more transparent, data-driven supply chain that moves at the speed of consumer demand.”
“Long term, we see Keychain as the connective layer between insight and execution. As AI continues to break down the walls between market research, product development, and supply chain operations, we’re already building the platform that unifies them — turning consumer signals into real-time supply chain action.”
Additional Thoughts
Any other topics you would like to discuss? Hanrahan concluded:
“What we’re building at Keychain isn’t just a tool — it’s infrastructure for the next generation of CPG manufacturing. The brands we work with are rethinking how products are made, and they’re demanding real-time, integrated systems that cut across traditional silos and geographies.”
“We’re also seeing legacy models start to break down. The old brokerage system — where middlemen controlled access to manufacturers — is giving way to a new era of transparency, speed, and control. Keychain is designed for that future.”
“In a world of shifting tariffs, supply chain disruptions, and rising costs, brands need more than insight — they need action. Our platform gives them instant access to real-time manufacturing data and AI-driven recommendations, so they can adapt quickly, reduce risk, and build smarter. For incumbents in research, procurement, or supply chain, the opportunity is clear: plug into the system that’s already powering the next wave of CPG growth.”
