2ndKitchen, a Chicago startup building a platform allowing businesses without kitchens to serve food, raised a seed round of funding to help it grow.
The startup announced Tuesday that it raised $1.35 million in a round led by Hyde Park Venture Partners, with participation from Great North Labs, Bragiel Brothers, Liquid2 Ventures, MATH Venture Partners and M25.
Founded last year by Nick Anastasiades, Jonathan Elron and Arik Gaisler, 2ndKitchen's platform allows businesses without kitchens, like bars, breweries, smoke lounges and bowling alleys, to serve food from nearby restaurants. Venues can create custom menus with options from nearby restaurants, allowing customers to order food and get it delivered directly to the establishment.
“[Patrons] are spending more time and more money at those businesses, and restaurants get more customers,” Anastasiades, 2ndKitchen’s CEO, told Chicago Inno in January. “There’s really no reason any business would say no to this service.”
When businesses sign up with 2ndKitchen, the platform allows them to choose a nearby restaurant to create their custom menu. Then patrons place orders with an employee at the business or at a kiosk, which sends orders directly to the paired restaurant. The service is free for businesses to offer to their customers. However, 2ndKitchen charges restaurants and customers a service fee.
The startup, which completed the Techstars Chicago accelerator, operates in neighborhoods throughout Chicago at places like The Map Room, Hopewell Brewing Company and Off Color Brewing.
