Chowbus Raises $81 Million to Expand Its AI-Powered Platform for Independent Restaurants
Chicago-based Chowbus raised $81 million to broaden its AI‑powered restaurant platform. The company now reports over $120 million in annual recurring revenue and processes roughly $4 billion in transactions across the U.S. and Canada. Moving beyond point‑of‑sale software, Chowbus will add AI‑driven marketing, accounting, supply ordering and insurance services to become an operating partner for independent, culturally specific restaurants. The funding, led by Prysm Capital and Left Lane Capital, fuels AI development and geographic expansion.
Nory Expands Into U.S. as Restaurants Seek AI Tools to Manage Rising Costs
London‑based Nory, an AI‑native restaurant operating system, announced a $37 million Series B round led by Kinnevik, bringing total capital to $63 million, and opened a U.S. headquarters in New York. The platform consolidates workforce management, inventory, procurement, BI and financial reporting, promising...
Restaurant Engagement Startup Grub Lab Expands With Immersive Kids Menu Platform
Australian startup Grub Lab, backed by a $6 million round and a controlling stake acquired by Quantaco, is set to launch in the United States. The company turns traditional kids’ menus into QR‑code‑activated, augmented‑reality experiences featuring licensed brands from Universal, Netflix...
How Data-Led Diversification Helps Restaurants Better Meet Guest Needs
Restaurant operators are turning to AI‑enhanced guest engagement platforms to capture comprehensive data from reservations, payments, Wi‑Fi and loyalty interactions. By unifying this information, they can segment customers by actual behavior, refine menus, and personalize marketing rather than relying on...
Research: 69% of Restaurants Are Adopting AI While 81% Increase Digital Marketing Investment
Research by Popmenu of 328 restaurant leaders shows 44% already use AI and another 25% plan adoption, while 78% are optimizing sites for AI‑driven search. Consumer spending dropped to $90 weekly, a $25 decline, prompting operators to lean on digital...
White Castle Deploys AI-Powered Perimeter Security Technology to Reduce Crime and Improve Safety
White Castle piloted Interface Systems' AI‑powered Virtual Perimeter Guard at a high‑risk St. Louis restaurant, cutting loitering, late‑night incidents, and escalation calls. Within 30 days, 91% of perimeter events were resolved automatically through AI detection and live voice deterrence, eliminating...
bb.q Chicken Deploys Deliverect Platform Across All U.S. Restaurants to Streamline Digital Operations
bb.q Chicken, a fast‑growing Korean fried‑chicken franchise, has rolled out Deliverect’s digital ordering and menu‑management platform across more than 250 U.S. locations. The integration links its Toast POS with Uber Eats, DoorDash, GrubHub, and other marketplaces, consolidating menu updates, order...
Dubai’s Woohoo Puts AI at the Center of the Restaurant Dining Experience
Dubai’s new Woohoo restaurant places an AI persona, Chef Aiman, at the heart of its dining experience, orchestrating lighting, large‑scale LED visuals and spatial audio. The venue uses Vivid Studio’s SP Grid platform as a low‑code control brain that links...
