The startup is also developing its second product, Alpha Kitchen, which is expected to launch in 2025 and will automate the entire burger-making process. Aniai currently serves seven customers, including fast-food burger chains in South Korea and has been testing Alpha Grill with burger chains in the U.S. since last year. The company plans to use the latest funding to speed up its expansions in the U.S. and South Korea. The funding round was led by InterVest, with participation from new investors SV Investment, UK’s Ignite Innovation, and a previous backer, Capstone Partners.
Key takeaways:
- Aniai, a startup that has developed a burger-grilling robot called Alpha Grill, has raised $12 million in a funding round, bringing its total raise to $15 million.
- The funds will be used to launch its first manufacturing facility, Factory One, in South Korea and deploy a cloud-based AI software platform for the robot, Alpha Cloud.
- The company plans to launch Factory One this year to meet the growing market demand for Alpha Grill, with around 500 pre-orders for delivery starting in the first quarter of 2024.
- Aniai is currently developing its second product, Alpha Kitchen, which is expected to launch in 2025 and will be able to automate the entire burger-making process.