Picnic, a food automation startup known for its pizza-making robot, has raised $5 million in funding and received backing from Unlock Venture Partners, led by Seattle entrepreneur Andy Liu. The money will be used to scale operations, increase production, and meet rising demand for Picnic’s technology. The Picnic Pizza Station, created by the company in 2016, is capable of automatically adding toppings to pizzas, allowing a single employee to produce up to 100 custom 12-inch pizzas per hour. Picnic’s customers include universities, stadiums, big-box retailers, and other high-volume locations.
The goal of Picnic, similar to other companies bringing food automation to kitchens and restaurants, is to reallocate labor, reduce waste, enhance consistency, and improve both employee and customer satisfaction. Liu was attracted to Picnic due to its CEO, Michael Bridges, who took over in May 2023, as well as the growing trends in robotics and automation within the food industry. Liu, a prolific investor in the Pacific Northwest, will be joining Picnic’s board of directors. Previously, he co-founded Unlock in 2018 and had successful ventures in the technology industry.
Picnic has raised a total of about $25 million to date. Bridges has a background in Lifelenz, Accenture, and Covario, and took over leadership of Picnic from Clayton Wood, a seasoned tech professional in Seattle. The Picnic Pizza Station was observed in action at a Seattle chain called Moto Pizza in 2023 by GeekWire. The chain is run by chef Lee Kindell, who believes that robotics are the future of food. Moto Pizza has expanded their operations to T-Mobile Park in Seattle and opened a new restaurant in Bellevue, Washington.
Kindell praised Picnic’s platform for providing the efficiency they need without compromising the quality that defines their brand. The blend of tradition and technology in the Picnic Pizza Station has been inspiring for the business. The funding and support from Unlock Venture Partners will allow Picnic to continue growing and meeting the demand for their innovative technology in the food industry. With the rise of automation and robotics in the food industry, companies like Picnic are at the forefront of providing solutions that benefit both businesses and consumers.
The investment from Unlock Venture Partners further validates Picnic’s position in the market and signals confidence in their technology and leadership. The successful implementation of the Picnic Pizza Station at Moto Pizza showcases the potential for automation to revolutionize the food industry and improve operations for businesses. Picnic’s commitment to innovation and efficiency bodes well for their future growth and expansion into new markets. With the support of investors like Andy Liu and existing backers, Picnic is well-positioned to capitalize on the growing demand for food automation solutions.
