TLDR:
- Robotic company Aniai has raised $12 million in pre-Series A funding to accelerate production of its robotic kitchen solution
- The funding round was led by InterVest, with participation from SV Investment, Ignite Innovation, and Capstone Partners
- Aniai’s flagship product, Alpha Grill, is a double-sided grill that can cook up to eight hamburger patties simultaneously
Aniai, a robotic company and global leader in innovative kitchen solutions, has raised $12 million in pre-Series A funding to accelerate production of its robotic kitchen solution. The funding round was led by InterVest, one of the largest venture capital firms in South Korea, with participation from new investors SV Investment and Ignite Innovation, as well as existing investor Capstone Partners. This brings Aniai’s total funding to date to $15 million.
Founded in 2020, Aniai is a groundbreaking startup that is developing a robotic solution for cooking hamburgers. Its flagship product, Alpha Grill, is a double-sided grill that can cook up to eight hamburger patties simultaneously or 200 patties per hour. By deploying Alpha Grill in their kitchens, restaurant brands can streamline operations and reduce labor intensity for employees.
The funding will be used to ramp up production and meet current and future demand. Aniai also plans to enhance the capabilities and performance of Alpha Grill by adding advanced, cloud-based, AI software. This software will include features that employ AI to assess the quality of hamburger patties during the cooking process, ensuring rigorous quality control.
Aniai will unveil the new cloud-based, AI software at the National Restaurant Association Show in May. The company also plans to launch its first dedicated manufacturing facility, Factory One, in South Korea to ensure stable production and supply chain management for Alpha Grill. The facility has the capacity to produce over 1,000 Alpha Grill units per year.
Aniai has been piloting Alpha Grill with leading North American hamburger brands since Q3 2023 and has already successfully deployed the product to seven South Korean hamburger franchises. The company has also recently announced partnerships with Lotteria, Teisty Burger, and Fault Burger, securing 500 Alpha Grill pre-orders for delivery in early Q1 2024.
The funding round signals investors’ recognition of Aniai’s innovative solutions and potential within the foodservice industry. With this investment, Aniai aims to continue improving kitchen productivity through robotics and automation as it expands globally.
