Dishcraft Robotics, provider of a commercial dishwashing and dishware delivery service powered by artificial intelligence and robotics, has raised $20 million in Series A1 funding led by new investor Grit Ventures.
Returning investors First Round Capital, Baseline Ventures, Fuel Capital, and Lemnos also participated in the round. To date, Dishcraft has raised $46 million in venture funding.
Marc Randolph, co-founder and former CEO of Netflix, and Kelly Coyne, founder and partner at Grit Ventures, will join Dishcraft’s board of directors, joining other prominent board members including Steve Anderson, founder of Baseline Ventures.
Dishcraft will use the new investment to expand its daily dish delivery service to include reusable to-go containers and utensils.
This will enable foodservice operators such as cafeterias, caterers, and restaurants to offer diners individually portioned takeaway meals in reusable containers that meet health guidelines for sanitization and hygiene.
These guidelines, combined with social distancing regulations, will likely limit communal dining for the foreseeable future, making takeaway options a compelling way to restart foodservice operations.
Kelly Coyne, founder and partner at Grit Ventures, says: “Even pre-Covid, Dishcraft was on track to be a significant force of disruption in the world of food services.
“In recent years, robotics has introduced major operational improvements in traditional industry. In particular, firms like Dishcraft that leverage RaaS (robotics-as-a-service) have been able to rapidly gain traction and sell effortlessly into long-stagnant industries.”
Dishcraft Daily is a sustainable dishware delivery service powered by Dishcraft’s purpose-built robotic dishwashers that can autonomously clean and sanitize tens of thousands of dishes every day.
Similar to a linen service, Dishcraft delivers plates, bowls, cups, and utensils each day throughout the San Francisco Bay Area.
Dishcraft then collects and returns dirty wares to its dishwashing hub where robots use advanced sensors, computer vision, AI, UV lighting, and innovative mechanics to autonomously sort, scrub, inspect, and rack dishware.
Each plate is inspected multiple times, spotting miniscule particles invisible to the human eye and washing plates until they’re entirely clean.
Dishcraft Daily is also sustainable, replacing single-use foodware that ends up in landfills, and using small amounts of cold water and a fraction of the energy of typical dishwashers.
Linda Pouliot, CEO and founder of Dishcraft, says: “At Dishcraft, we use robotics, automation, and a service business model to solve real-world problems. The ongoing support of our investors underscores how Dishcraft is at the forefront of technology, poised to meet the changing needs of a critical industry.
“The pandemic has put the spotlight on the absolute necessity for hygienic foodservice, and, with our solution, foodservice operators do not need to give up sustainability to achieve that goal.”
Dishcraft says it will expand the size of its dishwashing hub in San Carlos, California as well as add reusable takeaway containers to its daily dishware delivery service.
Dishcraft Daily customers include Affirm and foodservice company Guckenheimer, with “many more to be announced soon”, says the company.
