– USA, NY – CookUnity, the Brooklyn-based food-tech company that introduced the first direct Chef-to-Consumer meal subscription platform, today announced the closing of a $15.5 million Series A investment round led by Fuel Venture Capital alongside new and existing investors including seed round lead IDC Ventures, bringing the total capital raised since the platform inception to $23 million.
Concurrent with the financing, Jeff Ransdell, Founding Partner and Managing Director of Fuel Venture Capital, will join the board of directors.
“I’m honored to be along for the ride as the CookUnity team works together to support talented chefs and democratize access to high-quality food, on-demand, for eager and passionate consumers,” said Fuel Venture Capital Managing Director Jeff Ransdell. “Its Chef-to-Consumer platform brings exactly the kind of innovative, creative force our nation’s embattled hospitality industry and the talented minds behind it need today. I look forward to supporting CookUnity as it continues to expand and connect more chefs to people who are passionate about the food they eat.”
This funding will enable CookUnity to expand across North America and expand its marketing initiatives. CookUnity will also open two new state-of-the-art kitchens in Los Angeles, CA and Texas in addition to the original kitchen in Brooklyn, NY, to support the national expansion.
“We envision a world where chefs are no longer constrained by the capital, capacity, and geographic limitations of a restaurant,” said Founder and CEO Mateo Marietti. “The company has experienced incredible growth from 2018, and our recent funding points to the confidence and demand in the marketplace for this new category. We want to put chefs back in the center of the food universe, and answer the demand for an elevated at-home dining experience. Over the next 18 months, we expect to rapidly expand our talent pool of chefs and contribute to what we see as the future of food.”
“Over the past year, the COVID-19 pandemic has accelerated the need for chefs to diversify and forced consumers to find new ways to access fresh and elevated meals to enjoy at home. CookUnity has been integral in allowing me to hire back valuable team members and expand my reach beyond the physical constraints of our restaurant,” said Esther Choi.
About CookUnity
CookUnity is the first chef-to-consumer platform, connecting a diverse group of talented chefs with food lovers to create an elevated at-home dining experience. A robust and ever-changing menu of over 300 meals represents the handcrafted work of more than 30 talented chefs focused on ingredient-driven flavor and culinary technique. Through a weekly subscription, consumers can select from a wide array of fully prepared dishes that feature sustainably-sourced proteins and seasonal produce. Believing that healthy food fuels stronger communities, CookUnity contributes to an ongoing partnership and donation with the Food Bank For New York City, the city’s major hunger-relief organization working to end food poverty across all five boroughs.
For more information: https://www.cookunity.com/
About Fuel Venture Capital
Fuel Venture Capital is committed to propelling groundbreaking ideas into world-changing companies and democratizing access to the creative economy to shape the future of society. The firm’s “founder focused, investor driven” approach is led by a core team with more than 60 years of combined experience in investment banking, wealth management, executive leadership, and entrepreneurship. The fund boasts a portfolio of more than 20 companies based around the globe across numerous sectors, bringing positive impact to virtually all corners of our modern economy.
For more information: https://fuelventurecapital.com/
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