CookUnity secures $15.5m in funding

CookUnity, a US company that has introduced a chef-to-consumer meal subscription platform, has closed a $15.5 million Series A investment round.

CookUnity is a marketplace concept that provides chefs with tools and resources – including a kitchen in Brooklyn and the logistics to ship their meals – to reach consumers beyond the geographic constraints of a restaurant.

Through a weekly subscription service, consumers can choose from more than 300 chef-prepared meals, allowing them to experience “restaurant-quality meals from the comfort and convenience of their homes”.

According to CookUnity, the new capital will enable it to expand across North America, while a portion of the funds will be used to support the company’s marketing initiatives.

CookUnity also plans to open two new kitchens, in Los Angeles and Texas, which will join the original kitchen in Brooklyn, New York.

The investment was led by Fuel Venture Capital, which was joined by new and existing investors, including seed round lead IDC Ventures.

“We envision a world where chefs are no longer constrained by the capital, capacity and geographic limitations of a restaurant,” said CookUnity 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 centre 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.”