Techstars

PairAnything is an innovative company focused on enhancing the wine experience for consumers and wineries alike. By leveraging advanced mobile e-commerce and engagement solutions, it connects wineries with customers beyond traditional tasting rooms, promoting a customer-centric and data-driven approach to Direct-to-Consumer sales. The platform also features a food and beverage pairing tool that provides personalized pairing recommendations, catering to both restaurants and individual users. This capability allows restaurants to improve customer satisfaction and boost sales, while individuals can discover new culinary combinations to elevate their dining experiences. Through its proprietary technology, PairAnything is driving digital transformation within the wine industry, which is valued at $70 billion in the U.S.

Software powering logistics for the global food & beverage sector.

BEERMKR specializes in hardware appliances and consumables subscriptions for homebrewing. Their automated machines simplify the brewing process, allowing users to create up to a gallon of craft beer at home.

Get Duck specializes in providing a comprehensive digital solution for sporting venues, focusing on enhancing the food and drink ordering experience. Their platform utilizes QR codes to facilitate seamless menu browsing, ordering, and payment processes. This service is designed to improve customer satisfaction and boost revenue for vendors across various types of sporting venues, from golf courses to racetracks.

Bevz empowers convenience stores to stock customer-preferred snacks and drinks via its SaaS platform, facilitating in-store sales and multi-channel e-commerce.

Chamba is a job-search platform specializing in connecting candidates with relevant experience in Back Of House (BOH) and Front Of House (FOH) positions within the food and beverage industry. It facilitates direct communication between employers and interested candidates through its application.

Tastebase is a food and beverages discovery platform designed for modern food enthusiasts. Founded by a team of passionate food lovers, the company aims to transform the outdated culture of the consumer packaged goods industry by providing innovative products, engaging content, and enhanced shopping experiences. Tastebase connects customers with new tastes from emerging brands through a unique platform that features a taste quiz and consumer taste profiles. These tools help users explore and discover products tailored to their preferences, curated by fellow food enthusiasts. By leveraging consumer insights and product tags, Tastebase fosters connections between customers and growing brands, creating a vibrant marketplace for diverse culinary experiences.

MilkRun, Inc. is an online platform that facilitates direct grocery purchases from farmers and producers, allowing consumers to buy a variety of products including bakery items, meat, seafood, and beverages. Founded in 2016 and headquartered in Canby, Oregon, the company serves as a retail channel for small and mid-sized producers, enabling them to connect directly with their customers. Through its end-to-end solution, MilkRun enhances the distribution and fulfillment of locally sourced goods, significantly improving efficiency for producers by utilizing a pre-industrial distribution model tailored for local food systems.

Vervet is a manufacturing company specializing in the production of craft canned cocktails. Their products enable consumers to enjoy premium cocktail experiences conveniently, featuring house-made bitters and vermouth sourced from California farms.

MilkRun, Inc. is an online platform that facilitates direct grocery purchases from farmers and producers, allowing consumers to buy a variety of products including bakery items, meat, seafood, and beverages. Founded in 2016 and headquartered in Canby, Oregon, the company serves as a retail channel for small and mid-sized producers, enabling them to connect directly with their customers. Through its end-to-end solution, MilkRun enhances the distribution and fulfillment of locally sourced goods, significantly improving efficiency for producers by utilizing a pre-industrial distribution model tailored for local food systems.

MilkRun, Inc. is an online platform that facilitates direct grocery purchases from farmers and producers, allowing consumers to buy a variety of products including bakery items, meat, seafood, and beverages. Founded in 2016 and headquartered in Canby, Oregon, the company serves as a retail channel for small and mid-sized producers, enabling them to connect directly with their customers. Through its end-to-end solution, MilkRun enhances the distribution and fulfillment of locally sourced goods, significantly improving efficiency for producers by utilizing a pre-industrial distribution model tailored for local food systems.

Labby Inc. is a technology company based in Cambridge, Massachusetts, specializing in smartphone-based optical spectrometry for agricultural applications. Founded in 2017, Labby develops an artificial intelligence-driven platform that translates raw optical data into actionable insights, primarily for farmers and dairy processors. Its flagship product allows for rapid and precise testing of milk composition, facilitating early mastitis detection and enabling timely intervention. Additionally, Labby's technology is applicable across various sectors, including the detection of spoilage, adulterants, and contamination in the supply chain, as well as providing analytics for tracking harvest cycles and meteorological data mapping. The company also caters to the beer and wine industries, offering portable testing devices for quality control and counterfeit detection, serving a diverse clientele that ranges from large breweries to homebrewers.

MilkRun, Inc. is an online platform that facilitates direct grocery purchases from farmers and producers, allowing consumers to buy a variety of products including bakery items, meat, seafood, and beverages. Founded in 2016 and headquartered in Canby, Oregon, the company serves as a retail channel for small and mid-sized producers, enabling them to connect directly with their customers. Through its end-to-end solution, MilkRun enhances the distribution and fulfillment of locally sourced goods, significantly improving efficiency for producers by utilizing a pre-industrial distribution model tailored for local food systems.

Noir Food is a global community focused on connecting local food and wine producers with enthusiasts around the world. The company is dedicated to supporting these producers while promoting sustainable practices. Noir Food offers its members exclusive content that includes insider tips, behind-the-scenes videos, and extensive expert tasting notes. Members also receive curated wine flights delivered to their homes, along with gastronomic treats and access to exclusive pop-up events. Through these offerings, Noir Food creates exceptional culinary experiences, allowing individuals to savor fine food and wine from the comfort of their own homes.

Qi Aerista specializes in innovative tea-making solutions. They offer a WiFi-enabled smart tea brewer with a multi-infusion system that brews hot, cold, and strong-brew teas, providing access to authentic tea varieties such as black, green, oolong, white, dark, pu'er, and floral teas.

FRESCO is revolutionizing the cooking oil market in order to allow anybody to make any dish tastier and healthier, transforming a commodity, like olive oil, into a premium and emotional product. For this reason they developed the first solution to make the best condiment ever, the fresh olive oil. Fresco experience is easy and exciting: all you need is EVA, the first mini-oil mill, and his frozen olives Pulps. Thanks to their multi-skilled team and outstanding partners, they concluded the prototyping phase and they raised €1,0M. In May 2018 they have entered the B2B market with a pre-order campaign and they have already sold 50 subscription plans.

Induction Food Systems, Inc. is a manufacturer based in Raleigh, North Carolina, specializing in innovative heating equipment for the food and beverage industry. Founded in 2017, the company develops electric-powered induction heating systems that enhance production efficiency through on-demand precision heating solutions. These systems are particularly designed for evaporation, pasteurization, sterilization, and temperature regulation, accommodating a variety of fluids, including high viscosity and particulate foods. By utilizing electromagnetic energy, Induction Food Systems offers an alternative to traditional heating methods, such as boilers and steam heating, thereby reducing emissions and operational complexities. The company's technology supports sectors including brewing, cidering, distilling, and juice and beverage production.

Wisk Solutions Inc. is a Canadian company based in Toronto that specializes in developing software for managing alcoholic beverage operations. Founded in 2014, the company offers solutions aimed at optimizing various aspects of inventory management, including consumption analysis, product pricing, and purchase order management. Wisk's software is designed to streamline operations for a diverse clientele that includes hotels, clubs, restaurants, and bars, significantly reducing the time spent on inventory counting and data compilation.

BlendBow is a Paris-based company that specializes in designing and manufacturing innovative cocktail machines tailored for bar owners. Established in 2015, the company has dedicated 24 months to research and development, resulting in three filed patents for its unique product. BlendBow's cocktail machines address critical challenges faced by the hospitality industry, notably enhancing cocktail quality and reducing preparation time. These machines can efficiently cut lemons, crush ice, blend mixtures, and measure ingredients such as mint and rum. Additionally, they offer a selection of customizable cocktail recipes that are pre-configured for ease of use. BlendBow operates primarily in France, Belgium, and Switzerland, contributing to the growing demand for automation in beverage preparation.

Somm'It is a digital sommelier platform designed to enhance the beverage management experience for restaurants. Recognizing the challenges faced by restaurateurs due to low profit margins and complex beverage management, the company provides an automated solution that simplifies the creation of personalized wine lists and ensures optimal pricing strategies. By leveraging data intelligence, Somm'It enables restaurants to efficiently manage their beverage inventory and ordering processes, fostering improved service and customer experiences. Through its user-friendly platform, Somm'It empowers all restaurateurs, regardless of their sommelier expertise, to optimize beverage offerings and drive profitability.

Bybe, Inc. is a technology company based in Columbus, Ohio, founded in 2017, that specializes in developing a mobile platform designed for retailers to manage alcohol promotions. The company focuses on creating an integrated application that facilitates the management of offers related to beer, wine, and spirits. Bybe's platform streamlines the processes of offer creation, distribution, validation, remittance, and customer support, while also providing data visualization tools. It ensures compliance with state-specific regulations regarding alcohol promotions and integrates seamlessly with retail applications and e-commerce platforms. Bybe aims to enhance the connection between alcoholic beverage brands, retailers, and consumers through effective digital promotion strategies.

Matchaful LLC, founded in 2015 and based in Brooklyn, New York, specializes in the production and distribution of organic matcha tea and related equipment. The company offers hand-selected, nutrient-dense ingredients aimed at promoting health and wellness. Matchaful's product line includes organic matcha tea, matcha-making accessories, and gift cards, catering to cafes, offices, and individual consumers. The matcha tea is noted for its high antioxidant content, providing a natural source of energy and health benefits, including higher chlorophyll levels compared to regular green tea. Through its offerings, Matchaful seeks to empower individuals to lead healthier lives.

IntelligentX is a brewing company that has developed an innovative system to produce beer using artificial intelligence. Their approach involves leveraging complex machine learning algorithms to create a premium beer that evolves based on customer feedback. By utilizing an online feedback system, IntelligentX gathers data on customer preferences and uses this information to refine and adjust the brewing process. This allows the company to offer personalized beers that cater to individual tastes, setting it apart in the beverage industry.

NaCa Fermentation, Inc. is a company located in Beaverton, Oregon, that specializes in manufacturing fermentation tanks and yeast encapsulation technology for the beverage industry, specifically targeting distilleries, breweries, and wineries. By transforming the biological process of fermentation into a mechanical one, NaCa Fermentation aims to address issues such as stuck, slow, and unpredictable fermentations. Their innovative fermenters and patent-pending technology enable consistent fermentations that can be completed in 24 hours without compromising product quality. Additionally, the company offers its technology for licensing, allowing producers to enhance their production capacity while optimizing the use of their existing facilities.

Drinkeasy is a personalized shopping assistant that specializes in premium and craft spirits, facilitating purchases through a text-message-based platform. By combining artificial intelligence with human expertise, Drinkeasy offers a unique conversational shopping experience, allowing users to discover and buy hard-to-find liquors from distilleries around the globe. The service enables customers to access a curated selection of crafted spirits and beverages that are often unavailable at local liquor stores. From rare scotch priced at $2,000 to small-batch tequila, Drinkeasy provides tailored recommendations based on individual tastes, making it a valuable resource for both connoisseurs and casual drinkers seeking exceptional options.

Brewbot, Inc., founded in 2013, specializes in manufacturing stainless-steel-and-wood beer brewing machines and systems. The company also provides a mobile application that enables users to brew beer conveniently. Brewbot serves a diverse clientele including restaurants, companies, bars, and breweries across the United Kingdom and the United States. Based in San Carlos, California, Brewbot is driven by a multidisciplinary team of designers and developers from Belfast, N. Ireland, who bring varied backgrounds and a shared passion for brewing to their work.

Brewbot, Inc., founded in 2013, specializes in manufacturing stainless-steel-and-wood beer brewing machines and systems. The company also provides a mobile application that enables users to brew beer conveniently. Brewbot serves a diverse clientele including restaurants, companies, bars, and breweries across the United Kingdom and the United States. Based in San Carlos, California, Brewbot is driven by a multidisciplinary team of designers and developers from Belfast, N. Ireland, who bring varied backgrounds and a shared passion for brewing to their work.

Brewbot, Inc., founded in 2013, specializes in manufacturing stainless-steel-and-wood beer brewing machines and systems. The company also provides a mobile application that enables users to brew beer conveniently. Brewbot serves a diverse clientele including restaurants, companies, bars, and breweries across the United Kingdom and the United States. Based in San Carlos, California, Brewbot is driven by a multidisciplinary team of designers and developers from Belfast, N. Ireland, who bring varied backgrounds and a shared passion for brewing to their work.

Bevi develops bottle-less water dispensers for offices and commercial spaces that dispense beverages made from filtered tap water with natural flavors, including real fruit essences. The systems allow users to customize drinks and view nutrition information, while the company emphasizes tracking environmental impact and reducing waste from bottled beverages. The technology is designed to run on the municipal water supply, aiming to transform beverage delivery by offering eco-friendly, healthy hydration options on site.

TONX is a specialized coffee company focused on providing high-quality, freshly roasted coffee to consumers for home or office brewing. The company prides itself on sourcing the finest beans from around the world, ensuring that they are roasted shortly before being shipped to customers. By allowing consumers to order coffee online, TONX aims to deliver a superior coffee experience that rivals that of the best cafes, all at a more affordable price. With a small team of experts, TONX emphasizes the simplicity of brewing exceptional coffee in everyday settings.

ParLevel Systems, Inc., established in 2012 and headquartered in San Antonio, Texas, specializes in developing operations management software tailored for the vending industry. The company's primary offering is a comprehensive software suite that provides real-time monitoring, dynamic scheduling, inventory control, and warehouse management capabilities through an intuitive dashboard. Additionally, ParLevel Systems offers hardware solutions, including its flagship product, ParLevel Box, which enables real-time tracking of vending machine activity via cloud-based connectivity, thereby enhancing operational efficiency and profitability for clients in the food and beverage sectors.

TONX is a specialized coffee company focused on providing high-quality, freshly roasted coffee to consumers for home or office brewing. The company prides itself on sourcing the finest beans from around the world, ensuring that they are roasted shortly before being shipped to customers. By allowing consumers to order coffee online, TONX aims to deliver a superior coffee experience that rivals that of the best cafes, all at a more affordable price. With a small team of experts, TONX emphasizes the simplicity of brewing exceptional coffee in everyday settings.

TONX is a specialized coffee company focused on providing high-quality, freshly roasted coffee to consumers for home or office brewing. The company prides itself on sourcing the finest beans from around the world, ensuring that they are roasted shortly before being shipped to customers. By allowing consumers to order coffee online, TONX aims to deliver a superior coffee experience that rivals that of the best cafes, all at a more affordable price. With a small team of experts, TONX emphasizes the simplicity of brewing exceptional coffee in everyday settings.