Investor directory

Techstars

Techstars Central LLC, founded in 2006 and based in Boulder, Colorado, operates as a startup accelerator and venture capital firm focused on supporting early-stage technology-oriented companies. It specializes in a mentorship-driven accelerator program, selecting ten startups each summer to participate in a three-month incubation period, offering funding of $120,000 in exchange for equity. Techstars invests primarily in sectors such as fintech, artificial intelligence, blockchain, augmented reality, and IoT, while avoiding investments in medical devices, healthcare technology, and local service-oriented businesses. In addition to its primary accelerator, Techstars has various specialized programs, including those focused on music, retail, mobility, and social impact, with global reach extending to regions such as Africa, Asia, and Latin America. The firm prefers taking minority stakes, typically between six and ten percent, without seeking board representation or investor rights. Techstars has built a robust network of entrepreneurs, mentors, and corporate partners to foster innovation and growth within its portfolio, which includes over 1,000 companies with a significant collective market capitalization.

Focus

Pre Seed RoundSeed RoundArtificial IntelligenceMachine LearningSeries AShow more
http://techstars.com/ventures
https://crunchbase.com/organization/techstars
https://facebook.com/techstars
https://linkedin.com/company/techstars
https://twitter.com/techstars
https://www.capitaliq.com/CIQDotNet/company.aspx?companyId=431767203
https://www.privateequityinternational.com/database/#/profile?id=14977

Ethan Austin

MD of the Techstars Western Union Accelerator

Mark Tortorella

Advisor

Nathanial Zola

MD

Past deals in Restaurants

ZipLunch

Pre Seed Round in 2021
ZipLunch is an online platform that provides curated menus from top local restaurants, catering specifically to busy professionals in office settings. The service allows users to order meals from a variety of nearby restaurants at takeout prices or less, with the added benefit of free delivery. By simplifying the meal ordering process, ZipLunch helps customers save both time and money, making it easier for them to enjoy daily lunches and dinners without the hassle of traditional ordering methods. The platform is designed to meet the needs of those seeking convenient and affordable dining options while maintaining a focus on quality and variety.

Science On Call

Pre Seed Round in 2021
24/7 subscription-based tech support for restaurants. Help with point of sale, internet, Wi-Fi, online ordering, email, phones, and more — just one call or text away, even on nights & weekends! A Techstars Farm to Fork Accelerator portfolio company (2021), Food Foundry (2020)

WorkChew

Seed Round in 2021
WorkChew Inc. owns and operates a marketplace platform that connects mobile and remote workers to workspaces in restaurants and hotels in Chicago, Illinois, Virginia; and Washington, District of Columbia. The company's platform provides co-working spaces with food, drinks, and tools such as wifi. WorkChew Inc. was founded in 2018 and is based in Washington, District of Columbia.

WorkChew

Pre Seed Round in 2020
WorkChew Inc. owns and operates a marketplace platform that connects mobile and remote workers to workspaces in restaurants and hotels in Chicago, Illinois, Virginia; and Washington, District of Columbia. The company's platform provides co-working spaces with food, drinks, and tools such as wifi. WorkChew Inc. was founded in 2018 and is based in Washington, District of Columbia.

Inclusivv

Seed Round in 2020
Civic Dinners works with cities, state agencies, corporations, and nonprofits to design and launch conversations that spark real and lasting change. We provide both a high touch and high tech solution for organizations and regions looking to build stronger relationships across silos, raise consciousness around issues that matter, and help build solutions that make communities more vibrant and resilient.

Inclusivv

Pre Seed Round in 2020
Civic Dinners works with cities, state agencies, corporations, and nonprofits to design and launch conversations that spark real and lasting change. We provide both a high touch and high tech solution for organizations and regions looking to build stronger relationships across silos, raise consciousness around issues that matter, and help build solutions that make communities more vibrant and resilient.

Inclusivv

Pre Seed Round in 2020
Civic Dinners works with cities, state agencies, corporations, and nonprofits to design and launch conversations that spark real and lasting change. We provide both a high touch and high tech solution for organizations and regions looking to build stronger relationships across silos, raise consciousness around issues that matter, and help build solutions that make communities more vibrant and resilient.

Noir Food

Pre Seed Round in 2019
The Noir community supports and connects local food and wine producers that have global ambitions. They always promise to think sustainably, go directly to producers, and bring you phenomenal experiences for the best price.

DwellSocial

Pre Seed Round in 2019
DwellSocial, Inc. operates an online platform designed to connect homeowners with contractors, facilitating home projects and services. Established in 2017 and headquartered in Chicago, Illinois, the platform enhances user engagement by offering professional referrals from community members, thereby creating job opportunities. Additionally, DwellSocial aggregates demand for meals from local restaurants and organizes restaurant pop-ups in suburban areas, allowing these establishments to extend their service reach. This approach enables restaurants to efficiently serve new customers while benefiting from concentrated orders within the community. By fostering connections between homeowners, contractors, and local businesses, DwellSocial aims to empower neighborhoods and strengthen local economies.

Flashfood

Series A in 2019
Flashfood Inc. is a Toronto-based company that has developed an app aimed at reducing food wastage by connecting grocery stores and restaurants with consumers looking for discounted surplus food. The platform allows vendors to sell high-quality, surplus items at steep discounts, thereby increasing their revenue while simultaneously providing savings for shoppers. Users can browse local deals, purchase items directly through the app, and pick them up in-store. Since its founding in 2016, Flashfood has focused on addressing the issues of food waste and promoting sustainability in the food supply chain.

Slice of Sauce

Pre Seed Round in 2019
Slice of Sauce is a handmade food products company.

Sentiment Search

Pre Seed Round in 2018
Sentiment Search Limited operates an online platform that collects and analyzes reviews, tweets, blog posts, and news articles related to restaurants in the United Kingdom. Founded in 2015 and based in London, the company utilizes artificial intelligence to track customer feedback across various social platforms. By generating insights at the location, brand, and industry levels, Sentiment Search enables restaurants to assess their strengths and weaknesses in comparison to competitors. This information helps businesses optimize menus, enhance staff performance, and identify underperforming locations, ultimately aiming to improve their online ratings and customer perceptions. The platform offers a comprehensive understanding of customer sentiment over time, allowing restaurants to benchmark their performance effectively within their respective markets.

Barratio

Pre Seed Round in 2018
With Barratio, Restaurateurs, Bars owner will receive real actionable live data, giving them the insights they need to have full control over their business and ensure they stay ahead of the competition.

Barratio

Pre Seed Round in 2018
With Barratio, Restaurateurs, Bars owner will receive real actionable live data, giving them the insights they need to have full control over their business and ensure they stay ahead of the competition.

Sentiment Search

Pre Seed Round in 2018
Sentiment Search Limited operates an online platform that collects and analyzes reviews, tweets, blog posts, and news articles related to restaurants in the United Kingdom. Founded in 2015 and based in London, the company utilizes artificial intelligence to track customer feedback across various social platforms. By generating insights at the location, brand, and industry levels, Sentiment Search enables restaurants to assess their strengths and weaknesses in comparison to competitors. This information helps businesses optimize menus, enhance staff performance, and identify underperforming locations, ultimately aiming to improve their online ratings and customer perceptions. The platform offers a comprehensive understanding of customer sentiment over time, allowing restaurants to benchmark their performance effectively within their respective markets.

Pilotworks

Venture Round in 2018
Pilotworks is a provider of culinary incubation services that supports the growth of independent food companies. It offers flexible kitchen spaces, including standard, private, and semi-private arrangements, catering to businesses of all sizes, from startups to established national companies. In addition to workspace, Pilotworks provides a range of powerful services, including community support and mentoring, alongside cooking tips and advice. This comprehensive approach enables food entrepreneurs to access the resources and guidance they need to thrive in a competitive market.

KitchenMate

Seed Round in 2018
Reshaping your food experience with the only automated restaurant for your workplace. Stay safe, stay on-site with real food, cooked anytime powered by our plug-&-play Smart Cooking System.

Best Food Trucks

Pre Seed Round in 2018
Best Food Trucks (BFT) is the nation's largest food truck booking & ordering platform. From lot booking & location management to their exclusive order ahead technology to setting up food trucks at your office or event, Best Food Trucks will handle all the logistics so you can focus on the food.

2ndKitchen

Pre Seed Round in 2018
2ndKitchen, Inc. is a Chicago-based company that provides a platform for businesses lacking kitchen facilities to offer food service by partnering with local restaurants. Founded in 2017, 2ndKitchen enables various establishments, including bars, breweries, hotels, and co-working spaces, to create custom-branded menus featuring food selections from nearby restaurants. The platform facilitates seamless ordering through integrated kiosks, ensuring that food is delivered quickly and hot to customers at their seats. This approach benefits all parties involved: businesses enhance their offerings with food options, customers enjoy convenient dining experiences, and restaurants gain additional revenue by serving a broader customer base in their neighborhoods.

PathSpot

Convertible Note in 2018
PathSpot Technologies, Inc. develops and manufactures a system controlled by a software that protects restaurants and their customers from the threat of food-borne illness. It utilizes a unique algorithm for filtering, processing, and analyzing fluorescent light to scans an employee's hands to detect pathogens that cause food borne illness. The company was founded in 2017 and is based in New York City, New York.

KitchenMate

Seed Round in 2018
Reshaping your food experience with the only automated restaurant for your workplace. Stay safe, stay on-site with real food, cooked anytime powered by our plug-&-play Smart Cooking System.

KitchenMate

Seed Round in 2018
Reshaping your food experience with the only automated restaurant for your workplace. Stay safe, stay on-site with real food, cooked anytime powered by our plug-&-play Smart Cooking System.

Pilotworks

Series A in 2017
Pilotworks is a provider of culinary incubation services that supports the growth of independent food companies. It offers flexible kitchen spaces, including standard, private, and semi-private arrangements, catering to businesses of all sizes, from startups to established national companies. In addition to workspace, Pilotworks provides a range of powerful services, including community support and mentoring, alongside cooking tips and advice. This comprehensive approach enables food entrepreneurs to access the resources and guidance they need to thrive in a competitive market.

Somm'it

Seed Round in 2017
Restaurant profits are low. Somm’It thinks beverages are the main driver for profit within restaurants, but are not leveraged enough because of management complexity, lack of tools, skills, and expertise. Somm’It is the automated sommelier for every restaurant. Restaurants can also optimize the management of beverages through data intelligence, easy stock management, dynamic purchasing, and reliable, in real-time management of the wine lists.

Local Crate

Convertible Note in 2017
Local Crate is a food and beverage delivery service company.

Flashfood

Seed Round in 2017
Flashfood Inc. is a Toronto-based company that has developed an app aimed at reducing food wastage by connecting grocery stores and restaurants with consumers looking for discounted surplus food. The platform allows vendors to sell high-quality, surplus items at steep discounts, thereby increasing their revenue while simultaneously providing savings for shoppers. Users can browse local deals, purchase items directly through the app, and pick them up in-store. Since its founding in 2016, Flashfood has focused on addressing the issues of food waste and promoting sustainability in the food supply chain.

GroupRaise

Seed Round in 2017
Groupraise.com, Inc. is an online community that provides a way to organize restaurant fundraisers to support non-profit causes, including health, clean water, education, hunger, and social entrepreneurship. The company acts as a local community networking for restaurants to build relationships with community groups through fundraisers. Its community enables to list restaurants; start a campaign by posting dates, times, and the donation offered for local groups to host events; and groups request fundraisers through its online system. The company was founded in 2011 and is based in Houston, Texas.

Apparier

Seed Round in 2016
Apparier provides a software solution that enables restaurateurs to sell at a premium, their dining packages, daily and seasonal menus, and annual occasion menus. The company is headquartered in London, United Kingdom. Apparier operates as a subsidiary of Venue10 Limited.

Zenchef

Series B in 2015
Zenchef is a marketing platform designed to assist restaurants in enhancing their online presence across France, the United Kingdom, and Spain. Established in 2010 and headquartered in Paris, France, the company previously operated under the name 1001 Menus SAS before rebranding in November 2015. Zenchef offers a comprehensive software-as-a-service (SaaS) solution that enables restaurants to showcase their menus online, attract new customers, and foster customer loyalty. The platform serves as an all-in-one marketing and booking system tailored specifically for the needs of the restaurant industry.

Gastrozentrale

Seed Round in 2015
Gastrozentrale.de is a B2B online shop for kitchen technology and restaurant/catering equipment. From small food stands to canteen kitchens, customers can easily order napkins, industrial refrigerators or patio heaters online.

GroupRaise

Seed Round in 2015
Groupraise.com, Inc. is an online community that provides a way to organize restaurant fundraisers to support non-profit causes, including health, clean water, education, hunger, and social entrepreneurship. The company acts as a local community networking for restaurants to build relationships with community groups through fundraisers. Its community enables to list restaurants; start a campaign by posting dates, times, and the donation offered for local groups to host events; and groups request fundraisers through its online system. The company was founded in 2011 and is based in Houston, Texas.

Zenchef

Venture Round in 2015
Zenchef is a marketing platform designed to assist restaurants in enhancing their online presence across France, the United Kingdom, and Spain. Established in 2010 and headquartered in Paris, France, the company previously operated under the name 1001 Menus SAS before rebranding in November 2015. Zenchef offers a comprehensive software-as-a-service (SaaS) solution that enables restaurants to showcase their menus online, attract new customers, and foster customer loyalty. The platform serves as an all-in-one marketing and booking system tailored specifically for the needs of the restaurant industry.

Pilotworks

Seed Round in 2015
Pilotworks is a provider of culinary incubation services that supports the growth of independent food companies. It offers flexible kitchen spaces, including standard, private, and semi-private arrangements, catering to businesses of all sizes, from startups to established national companies. In addition to workspace, Pilotworks provides a range of powerful services, including community support and mentoring, alongside cooking tips and advice. This comprehensive approach enables food entrepreneurs to access the resources and guidance they need to thrive in a competitive market.

Appetas

Seed Round in 2012
Appetas' restaurant marketing platform gets restaurants online instantly and empowers to easily market themselves. Appetas’ technology can instantly create beautiful web, mobile, and social sites for restaurants using their real menu, hours, and location. We reach restaurants through established partner channels and provide our marketing platform as a service. Individual and small chain restaurants struggle to establish a quality online presence. They understand the importance of marketing online but existing options are too complex, expensive, and time consuming. Appetas gets restaurants online in seconds with great looking web, mobile, and social sites provided alongside a partner they trust. They can make updates themselves or opt for a full service option.

Food Genius

Seed Round in 2011
Food Genius, Inc. is a technology company based in Chicago, Illinois, that specializes in data and menu analysis for the food industry. Founded in 2010, it provides a web-based platform known as Food Genius Reports, which offers insights into restaurant menus and emerging trends by analyzing data from various dining establishments across the United States. The company caters to a diverse clientele, including brands, manufacturers, distributors, and restaurant chains, delivering comprehensive reports and analytics that address complex foodservice business questions. Its services range from competitive price tracking to statistical analyses of menu items, supporting clients in making informed decisions. Food Genius serves notable companies such as Kraft, Coca-Cola, and Arby’s, and operates as a subsidiary of US Foods, Inc.

forkly

Seed Round in 2011
Forkly makes it ridiculously easy to match your taste buds with the food and restaurants around you. Capture and share your tastes while dining out, and Forkly will help you discover a new dish around the corner, the best burger in town or your favorite cocktail in a new city.