Mobile-ordering startup Rivalry Tech expands to Houston Methodist campuses, resorts

Houston-based startup Rivalry Tech is continuing the expansion of its mobile-order platforms beyond the sports venues where it launched, bringing its myEATZ platform to hospitals and resorts.

Cafes at Houston Methodist-The Woodlands, Houston Methodist-Willowbrook, Houston Methodist-Clear Lake, Houston Methodist Continuing Care Hospital in Katy and Houston Methodist West, off of the Katy Freeway, will feature the platform.

Rivalry Tech CEO and co-founder Aaron Knape told the Houston Business Journal the rollout was a direct result of a $3.5 million funding round the company raised in November 2022. The myEATz platform was first launched at Houston Methodist’s Woodlands campus, but Knape said the funding allowed the company to prepare software and employees for expansion.

The target demographic for myEATz are hospital workers who would use the service to schedule meal pickups during their breaks.

"Employee wellness is especially important in health care as worker shortages, combined with fatigue, continue to be a concern,” Knape said in a statement.

The company partnered with Philadelphia-based Aramark (NYSE: ARMK), which provides food services on the Houston Methodist campuses. Rivalry Tech and Aramark previously collaborated when the Houston startup’s sEATz platform launched for use in sports and entertainment venues, Knape said. He confirmed Aramark was driving Rivalry Tech’s expansion into hospital systems both locally and nationally.

Rivalry Tech also connected with Houston Methodist directly through a connection from the HX Venture Fund, Knape said.

Another sector myEATz is targeting since the November raise is leisure. The platform launched at the Jimmy Buffett-themed Margaritaville Lake Resort Lake Conroe-Houston for use in poolside ordering with an eye on expanding to the resort’s golf course and room service.

“Our pipeline of resorts is growing daily, and I expect we will see that become a driving force in our business model,” Knape said.

The partnership continues a trend of general growth for Rivalry Tech, which started with its sEATz platform to allow fans to order food from their seats in stadiums. Successful launches with Rive University and the minor league baseball team now known as the Sugar Land Space Cowboys allowed the company to grow its head count to about 120 employees after a year of operations.

In March 2023, Rivalry Tech was named as one of 10 startups participating in the Comcast NBCUniversal SportsTech Accelerator. The program allows Rivalry Tech to work with experts from Comcast, NBC, Sky and Boomtown to improve its product. Commenting on the accelerator, Knape said Comcast Business elected to directly sponsor Rivalry Tech, allowing the company to get market exposure for more applications in sports and health care ordering.

Rivalry Tech was previously named as one of 22 startups in Houston-based Softeq Venture Studios' accelerator in October 2022, and Craig Ceccanti, a co-founder of the company, joined Softeq Venture Fund as an investor.