D.C. Food-Tech Startup HUNGRY Raises $1.5M to Fuel Fast Growth

WASHINGTON, June 19, 2018 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- HUNGRY, the online marketplace that connects independent chefs with the lucrative office catering market, today announced it has raised $1.5 million in seed funding from private investors, bringing its total to $4.5 million since its founding in late 2016. The funding will be used for new market expansion, talent acquisition, and further development of HUNGRY's proprietary ordering and delivery platform.

HUNGRY launched its marketplace in January 2017 in the Washington, D.C. market and rapidly grew to more than $1 million in sales by the end of that year. The company provides culinary stars with a platform to sell their signature menus directly to corporate customers, who can effortlessly place catering orders via web or phone, which are then delivered by HUNGRY. Rather than ordering only from restaurants or traditional caterers, offices can now order directly from a vast network of talented independent chefs, including former White House chefs, Chopped Champions, and even celebrity chefs.

"In a very short period, the HUNGRY team has achieved tremendous validation in the $25 billion U.S. catering market, which is ripe for a big disruptor. Their approach is innovative, their execution flawless, and they create tremendous value for the entire HUNGRY ecosystem ? their customers and the culinary artists who serve them, as well as their local community," said Brent Thompson, a former Expedia, Inc. executive and current HUNGRY investor and board member.

HUNGRY's Uber-like platform saves companies big by stripping out a third of the costs associated with ordering from restaurants and caterers, while helping chefs earn three to 10 times more per hour than standard culinary jobs*. More than 300 companies in the D.C. area have already put their office food needs in the hands of HUNGRY and its network of top chefs, including Amazon, E-Trade, Microsoft, WeWork, and many more.

"HUNGRY has been a life-changer for me, because I get to work when I want, cook the menu I want, and spend more time with my daughter, versus working late, working weekends and long hours in a restaurant. Until now, chefs' only career options were to work their way up in a restaurant or raise millions to open their own. HUNGRY has created a rewarding new career path for culinary artists," said Chef Evan, a former top chef at the MGM National Harbor in Washington, D.C., who became a full-time HUNGRY Chef in 2017.

HUNGRY is on course to quadruple sales in 2018 and expects to be profitable by year-end. "Reliability, incredible variety, and our multi-faceted community support ? ranging from health, to the environment, to providing thousands of meals to those less fortunate ? are all reasons our repeat customer rate is 98 percent," said Eman Pahlavani, Founder and COO.

*Average cost of a catered meal in the Washington, D.C. area is $15+, vs. $10 with HUNGRY. Chefs working on the HUNGRY platform make approximately $75-150 per hour, vs. the industry average of $22 per hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

About Hungry
HUNGRY launched in 2016 in the Washington, D.C. market as a revolutionary way for independent chefs to connect with the $25 billion office catering market. HUNGRY was founded on the belief that employees deserve better food that better matches their tastes and preferences, and chefs deserve greater economic opportunity, recognition and culinary freedom.

HUNGRY is committed to improving the communities it serves. Through its 'Fight Against Hunger' program, HUNGRY donates one meal to those in need for every two purchased; and its 'WeRecycle' program promotes environmental waste reduction by offering biodegradable plates and cutlery with its delivered meals.

SOURCE HUNGRY