Kounta

Kounta is an Australian software brand founded in 2012 by entrepreneur Nick Cloete. Its core product was created for hospitality businesses that needed a flexible point-of-sale system capable of operating across mobile devices, web browsers, computers, payment terminals, printers, and other connected peripherals. Rather than treating the cash register as a standalone hardware installation, Kounta developed a cloud-based service that combined sales processing with operational functions such as inventory management, reporting, and integrations with payment and business software. The flagship Kounta platform began as a web-based application and expanded into a software-as-a-service point-of-sale environment available through browsers and native applications for platforms including iOS and Android. It supported deployments involving iPads, iPhones, Android devices, Macs, Windows systems, and associated peripherals. The model enabled hospitality operators to use mobile devices as front-of-house or service terminals while maintaining centrally managed business data. Kounta also handled infrastructure-related responsibilities such as data backup, encryption, server upgrades, and hardware maintenance through its hosted environment. Partnerships were central to the brand's development. In 2012, Kounta worked with Epson to provide a cloud point-of-sale platform compatible with Epson printers. In 2013, it partnered with PayPal to support cashless and cardless transaction options through PayPal's mobile application. In 2014, MYOB invested an undisclosed amount in the company. The relationship produced MYOB Kounta, a co-branded application that combined Kounta's hospitality point-of-sale capabilities with MYOB business software and launched in October of that year. In 2016, Kounta announced an integration with Commonwealth Bank of Australia's Albert EFTPOS tablet, intended to bring point-of-sale and payment functionality together on a single device. The product was offered through paid monthly subscription licences and included an open application programming interface. That API allowed third-party software providers to connect complementary applications, extending the platform into areas such as payments, accounting, hardware, and other hospitality workflows. This integration-oriented approach positioned Kounta as part of a broader hospitality technology ecosystem rather than merely as a digital replacement for a traditional till. In October 2019, Lightspeed, a Montreal-based commerce technology company serving retail, hospitality, and golf businesses, acquired Kounta. The reported purchase price was US$35.3 million. Following the acquisition, Kounta became part of Lightspeed's broader commerce-platform portfolio. Publicly available reference material does not establish a separate current corporate structure, standalone leadership team, or definitive end-of-life date for the Kounta name. The brand is therefore best understood as a hospitality point-of-sale product and software brand associated with Lightspeed.

Kounta was established in Australia in 2012 by Nick Cloete. From its beginning, the company focused on hospitality point-of-sale technology and sought to move core checkout functions from fixed tills to internet-connected mobile and web-based systems. Its initial product was a web application, later developing into a broader cloud software service that could operate with iOS, Android, Mac, Windows, and associated hardware. The Kounta platform was designed to support more than payment acceptance. It incorporated online cash-register functions, inventory management, reporting, and connections to external applications. The software-as-a-service model allowed customers to access the system through paid monthly subscriptions, while Kounta's hosted infrastructure handled functions including data backup, encryption, server upgrades, and hardware maintenance. An open API enabled other providers to build integrations around the platform. Kounta expanded its ecosystem through hardware, payments, accounting, and banking partnerships. In 2012 it partnered with Epson around cloud point-of-sale support for Epson printers. In 2013, it worked with PayPal to add cashless and cardless transaction options through PayPal's mobile application. In 2014, MYOB made an undisclosed investment in Kounta. The two companies subsequently introduced MYOB Kounta in October 2014, combining Kounta's point-of-sale system with MYOB's business software in a co-branded offering. In 2016, Kounta announced a partnership with Commonwealth Bank of Australia involving Albert, the bank's EFTPOS tablet. The arrangement was intended to consolidate payment and operational functions on one device and application, illustrating Kounta's strategy of connecting its software with payment infrastructure rather than operating as an isolated application. The company's major ownership transition occurred in October 2019, when Lightspeed acquired Kounta. Lightspeed is a Montreal-based commerce software company serving retail, hospitality, and golf businesses. The acquisition was reported at US$35.3 million. After the transaction, Kounta became part of Lightspeed's wider product portfolio. Available reference material does not provide a complete account of subsequent product renaming, management changes, or the current degree of standalone operation under the Kounta brand.

1. 2019Acquired by Lightspeed

   Lightspeed acquired Kounta in October 2019 in a transaction reported at US$35.3 million.

   Source
2. 2016Commonwealth Bank Albert integration

   Kounta announced that its application would be made available on Commonwealth Bank of Australia's Albert EFTPOS tablet.

   Source
3. 2014MYOB investment and co-branded product

   MYOB invested an undisclosed amount in Kounta, and MYOB Kounta launched in October as a combined point-of-sale and business-software offering.

   Source
4. 2013PayPal partnership

   Kounta integrated with PayPal to support cashless and cardless transaction options through the PayPal mobile application.

   Source
5. 2012Kounta founded and launches its hospitality POS

   Nick Cloete founded Kounta in Australia, and the company launched its hospitality-focused cloud point-of-sale application for mobile and desktop environments.

   Source
6. 2012Epson partnership

   Kounta partnered with Epson to provide a cloud point-of-sale platform compatible with Epson printers.

   Source

A cloud-first, integration-oriented point-of-sale platform for hospitality businesses, designed to combine mobile checkout, operational management, payments, and connected business applications.

• KountaCloud point-of-sale and hospitality management software2012

  Kounta's flagship software was a cloud-based point-of-sale platform for hospitality businesses. It began as a web application and supported browser access alongside native applications for iOS and Android. The system could run across iPads, iPhones, Android devices, Macs, Windows computers, and connected peripherals. Beyond recording sales and accepting payments, it included inventory-management capabilities and an open API for integrations with complementary software and hardware. Kounta used a subscription model, while hosted infrastructure responsibilities such as backups, encryption, server upgrades, and maintenance were handled by the service provider.

• MYOB KountaCo-branded hospitality and business-management software2014

  MYOB Kounta was a co-branded application created through the relationship between Kounta and MYOB. It combined Kounta's hospitality point-of-sale functions with MYOB's business software, giving participating businesses a more closely connected operational and accounting environment. The product launched in October 2014 after MYOB invested an undisclosed amount in Kounta.

• Kounta on AlbertEFTPOS and point-of-sale integration2016

  Kounta on Albert referred to the availability of the Kounta application on Commonwealth Bank of Australia's Albert EFTPOS tablet. The integration was intended to bring point-of-sale operations and payment processing together on a single device, supporting the bank's effort to provide an integrated operational tool for business customers.

• 2019Lightspeed acquisition of KountaM&A

  Kounta operated in cloud point-of-sale and hospitality software, while Lightspeed was expanding its commerce platform across retail, hospitality, and golf businesses.

  What changed. Lightspeed acquired Kounta in October 2019.

  Aftermath. Kounta became part of Lightspeed's broader commerce-software portfolio. Public reference material does not fully document the later standalone status of the Kounta brand.

  Reported acquisition price. US$35.3 million (October 2019)

  Source

• 2019Lightspeed acquires Kounta

  Lightspeed acquired Kounta in October 2019 as part of its expansion in commerce software for hospitality and related businesses. The reported purchase price was US$35.3 million.

  M&A
  Source
• 2016Kounta connects with Commonwealth Bank Albert EFTPOS

  Kounta announced a partnership with Commonwealth Bank of Australia to make its application available on the bank's Albert EFTPOS tablet.

  Product launchOther
  Source
• 2014MYOB invests in Kounta and launches MYOB Kounta

  MYOB made an undisclosed investment in Kounta, followed by the launch of MYOB Kounta, a co-branded application combining Kounta point-of-sale capabilities with MYOB software.

  M&AProduct launch
  Source
• 2013Kounta integrates PayPal mobile payments

  Kounta formed a partnership with PayPal to support cashless and cardless transactions through PayPal's mobile application.

  Other
  Source
• 2012Kounta partners with Epson on cloud point of sale

  Kounta partnered with Epson to provide a cloud-based point-of-sale platform supporting Epson printers and hospitality deployments.

  Other
  Source

1. Kounta (software company)