Participated · Series C · Jul 2022

Kitchen United operates a platform combining commercial kitchen space, restaurant-hub technology and streamlined logistics to help foodservice operators enter new markets, grow off-premises revenue and expand delivery areas. Its technology enables customers to order from multiple prepared food and consumer goods brands on the same ticket and with the same delivery driver, synchronized to maximize quality and payload while minimizing time and expense. The company also develops Kitchen United OS, a multi-concept ordering technology platform used by national restaurant brands. Led by CEO Michael Montagano, Kitchen United currently powers approximately 200 operational kitchens across 20 regions. The company plans to increase both its technological and physical presence, with continued focus on Los Angeles, New York City, Chicago, Texas and other U.S. trade areas. Management intends to use the recent funding to accelerate growth and expand operations. Kitchen United operates commercial kitchen centers that house 10–15 restaurant brands each, providing operators a value-driven, low-risk way to enter new markets and expand delivery areas by removing capital and technology barriers. Launched in 2017 and headquartered in Pasadena, Calif., the company positions itself as a strategic real estate partner for restaurant chains as consumer preference shifts to off-premise dining. Kitchen United handles operations so restaurant brands can focus on food while scaling via shared kitchen infrastructure. The company cites a large addressable market—William Blair estimated U.S. off-premise restaurant sales at $279B in 2018, growing to an expected $402B in 2022. Current locations include Pasadena and Chicago, with upcoming openings in Scottsdale and Austin and additional sites under construction in Chicago, San Francisco, Los Angeles and other major markets. As part of its growth strategy, Kitchen United plans to enter New York City through a relationship with RXR Realty to open kitchen centers in RXR and other Tri-State properties. The company recently closed a financing round to support expansion into its primary growth markets, including New York City, Chicago, Los Angeles, San Francisco and Boston. Kitchen United is a virtual-restaurant concept that operates "Kitchen Centers" — converted warehouse, big-box or light-industrial facilities that can house 10–20 restaurants and centralize delivery production. The company aggregates demographic and cuisine-specific demand data to select locations and provide restaurant partners opt-in consumer and operational intelligence to tailor menus, staffing and operations. Kitchen United positions its offering as a lower-cost, lower-risk way for national, regional and local chains and food entrepreneurs to enter new markets and expand off-premise dining. Launched in 2017 and headquartered in Los Angeles, the company says its centers create operational efficiencies and reduce delivery costs while expanding partners' addressable delivery markets. Kitchen United plans to use recent funding to accelerate national growth and to build its real estate, marketing, engineering and operations teams. Leadership brings experience from chains and hospitality companies including Taco Bell, McDonald’s, SBE Entertainment and Wolfgang Puck.

Led · Series A · Aug 2021

WoodSpoon operates a marketplace and delivery service that lets customers order home-cooked dishes from vetted local home chefs via its website and app. The company inspects chefs' kitchens, interviews cooks, provides training, and supports chefs with packaging and logistics. WoodSpoon serves over 16,000 active customers across Manhattan, Brooklyn and Queens and works with roughly 150 active professional chefs, immigrants and regular cooks. The business reports 50% month-over-month growth and says 35% of customers have ordered four times within 17 days of their first order. The company has about 30 employees and plans to double its team and hire more engineers to build its technology. WoodSpoon is preparing a new product launch at the end of August and an app overhaul, and it plans to expand into major U.S. cities over the next 12 months while onboarding a waitlist of hundreds of chefs. WoodSpoon was started by Oren Saar and Merav Kalish Rozengarten and later joined by co-founder Lee Reshef. The company operates a mobile marketplace app that lets home chefs sell crafted meals while WoodSpoon handles packaging, payments and deliveries. The app went live in March after a five-month beta and the marketplace works with over 100 chefs. Since launch the platform has amassed more than 8,000 users and generates over $15,000 in sales month over month; it also offers nationwide shipping for baked goods. WoodSpoon is available in Manhattan, Brooklyn, Long Island City, Hoboken and Jersey City and plans to grow within New York and beyond. Next steps include marketing, hiring, product development and onboarding more chefs.