Trending FoodTech Startups: what solutions restaurants will use in 2025

Natalie Sokolova, communications expert

Jan 15, 2025

12 minutes

Contents

1. Emerging Food Tech solutions for 2025
2. Trending FoodTech Startups
3. Challenges for FoodTech companies
4. FAQ

Technology is at the heart of modern restaurant operations:

Ghost kitchens optimise delivery operations;
AI-powered systems manage inventory with precision;
Smart solutions handle everything from kitchen operations to customer orders.

These are the tools your restaurant will need to grow in 2025. Small cafes increase efficiency with automated ordering. Restaurant chains scale operations with integrated management systems. Technology adoption will be the difference between businesses that thrive and those that fall behind.

This guide highlights the best food tech companies that are building essential solutions to streamline operations, improve customer experience and adapt to changing market demands. Read our article to find out more:

What are the most in-demand food tech trends?
What is the current state of funding for startups?
Which food technology startups should you look out for?
What are the challenges facing the food tech industry and how are they being addressed?

Emerging Food Tech solutions for 2025

Smart technology is shaping modern food businesses. Let's start with four key trends that define success in today's market.

AI solutions

According Hotel management research, 37% of food startups and businesses say technology tools can streamline customer orders. Artificial intelligence and machine learning (AI & ML) power most of the operations from quality control systems to identifying problems before they affect customers. They can also be used for real-time inventory tracking in the supply chain.

These are just some of the practical benefits that AI can bring to your kitchen:

The demand for technology integration and real-time analytics demonstrates the growing adoption of AI solutions. These systems can analyse vast amounts of data to optimise production schedules and improve supply chain efficiency. Here are the key directions in which the use of food technology can improve processes.

Smart operations

Labour shortages are driving companies towards automation. According to the U.S. Bureau of labor statistics there are currently 1,137,000 unfilled jobs in the US restaurant industry. This shortage is driving restaurant technology companies to automate processes to fill critical gaps. Food quality and inventory security.

Speed up service

A high volume of customers inevitably brings in revenue, but it also increases the risk of losses due to overworked staff. Manual order processing in a restaurant takes time for each step: greeting guests, choosing a table, taking the order and clarifying details, passing it on to the kitchen. With a large seating capacity, diners will wait longer than usual for their meals, which will affect their loyalty.

For example, when we developed Foodclick, an restaurant technology companies aggregator with a table-booking function, we made sure that the table-booking process was completely automated: from selecting a restaurant to pre-booking and contactless payment. This startup is now actively developing, offering both customers and restaurant administrators a convenient alternative to time-consuming phone calls for clarification.

A functional app for a foodtech startup Foodclick

We have made an app for Foodclick, which gives guests full control over visits to their favorite places: from booking a table and ordering dishes to automatic payment and tips to the waiter 's card.

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The table reservation technology also works at the Dryzya restaurant, which serves more than 1,000 guests a day.

Restaurant and brewery Druzya

In this project, we automated the work flows of place reservation and kitchen load control. We developed a website with an admin section and replaced all the programmes within the restaurant.

View project

The same risks apply to a remote format – with a large number of orders, delivery services cannot cope with such a flow: without automation, kitchen stocks will run out, couriers will have to create their own routes, and customers will be dissatisfied with your service.

That's why we created instant data updates in the app for the fast-growing delivery chain Yapoki delivery chain. When placing an order, the user only sees the options available from the nearest restaurant. They can also track the progress of the delivery in real time. Find more features for restaurant app development here.

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Reduce mistakes

According to Unmudl data, 88% of foodtech companies owners say that automation enables them to compete more effectively by helping them to operate more efficiently, reduce errors and improve customer service. It is therefore important to consider automation not only at the guest service level, but also to manage processes within the business. Implementing an ERP system that can help centralise core operations, track sales analysis and all orders, provide stock control and flexibly manage staff workloads.

But you can also start the change with spot operations. For example, installing kitchen automation solutions can help to better control the flow of orders, reduce errors and ensure high staff productivity, even at peak times. And the people management solution will help to schedule employee shifts, calculate benefits and estimate working hours.

Smaller businesses will be well served by integration with existing POS. A large business with rapid growth and the need to constantly scale will be better off with custom solution.

Read our article on choosing the right type of POS system

Read article

Conscious consumption

Sustainability has moved from being a nice-to-have to a core business requirement. Your food tech implementation can have a significant impact on environmental sustainability through intelligent resource management. The UN reports that 13.2% of food produced is lost between harvest and retail, while an estimated 19% of total global food production is wasted in households. But AI and automation are helping to address this challenge.

Smart technologies now enable accurate demand forecasting and inventory management, helping you reduce waste while maintaining optimal stock levels. AI-powered systems connected to IoT devices in warehouses and farms can analyse energy consumption patterns, humidity level and temperature parameters to suggest efficiency improvements, contributing to both environmental and financial sustainability.

To keep track of any changes, you can also install trackers on the shelves that send information about expiration dates and stock levels back to the analytical dashboard panel with the urgent notification feature.

More ideas of using IoT in foodtech provided in this article

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Dietary personalisation

Personalisation in foodservice is becoming increasingly important. According to Innova research, 64% of customers want more personalised food and products that fit their lifestyle. This trend is shaping the way food tech companies approach product development and service delivery.

Wearable devices and mobile apps have become critical to this personalisation trend. They instantly monitor diet, physical activity and health metrics. This data enables more targeted and effective nutritional advice for your customers.

The integration of continuous glucose monitors (CGMs) into products and wearables stands out because it provides valuable insights into metabolic health. This technology helps you provide more accurate, tailored dietary recommendations based on actual physiological responses to different foods.

By 2030, consumers will have unprecedented access to their personal and biological needs through testing and data technology. This advancement in personalisation capabilities gives your food tech business the opportunity to develop more sophisticated, targeted solutions.

While we've only mentioned trends, it's still important to avoid the worst and most outdated technologies when developing your foodtech business.
Here are the most common anti-trends and the mistakes they cause.

George A.

Business Manager

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Trending FoodTech Startups

Venture capitalists have invested more than $20 billion in food startups, demonstrating the sector's reliable growth potential. The FoodTech 500 initiative received more than 1,500 applications from food tech startups in 77 countries. This demonstrates the truly global nature of food innovation. The United States leads the way with more than 2,320 mapped startups, giving you access to a large ecosystem of solutions.

The industry is expected to grow steadily at a CAGR of 5.57% to 2028, potentially reaching a market value of USD 360.10 billion.

And here are examples of the most promising startups in each trend.

Alternative Protein Innovations

Companies like Hempeat may catch your eye if you are looking for sustainable protein alternatives. They are revolutionising meat alternatives with hemp. Their pioneering approach uses 400 times less water and produces 24 times less carbon emissions than traditional beef production. This is in line with sustainability goals and meets growing consumer demand for environmentally friendly options.

ProFuse technology has made a breakthrough in growing muscle tissue. They have increased the protein content to five times that of conventional meat. This development could transform your menu offerings, especially if you want to attract health-conscious customers.

Sustainability Solutions

The key innovations in sustainable food technology are automated climate control and resource optimisation through AI integration.
Urban Farmers Pro shows what sustainable food production will look like. Their vertical farming solutions are 170 times more efficient than traditional farming methods. These systems use 95% less water and take up minimal space, making them perfect for your restaurant's farm-to-table initiatives.

For more tips on how to create a greener image, check out this article

Read article

AI and Data Analytics

BetterMeal AI combines artificial intelligence with personalised nutrition.
Its technology finds foods that work at a molecular level for individual gut health. This innovation helps tailor menu offerings based on customers' specific dietary needs and priorities.

Supply Chain Innovation

TraceX Technologies is revolutionising food supply chain management through blockchain technology. Their platform provides both pre-harvest and post-harvest solutions to help businesses:

Improve crop and parcel management;
Optimise production planning;
Improve inventory management;
Provide end-to-end supply chain visibility.

George A.

Business Manager

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Challenges for FoodTech companies

The food software business offers exciting opportunities, but business owners face many challenges. You need to understand these barriers in order to add technology solutions to your business.

Scalability

Food tech companies face unique scaling challenges that go beyond typical growth issues. Many companies are caught off guard by the operational complexities of scaling up, resulting in additional costs and delays. Production capacity reaches its limits, creating several key issues:

Cold storage and specific product constraints must be managed;
Customer expectations for faster delivery continue to rise;
Product quality must remain consistent with higher volumes;
Scaled operations have an impact on the environment.

Being small helps companies move quickly and create new solutions, but this becomes a disadvantage when scaling food production. Large companies have dedicated scale-up teams, including food scientists and process engineers.

Speciality products make scaling even more challenging. To take just one example, products with a shorter shelf life require a scaling strategy that includes the following conditions.

Regulation

Food tech companies have to deal with an increasingly complex regulatory environment as new requirements continue to emerge. That's why companies need to meet stringent standards that control production environments and ensure customer safety.

Recent data shows that approximately 48 million people in the U.S. are sickened by foodborne illness each year, with 128,000 hospitalisations and 3,000 deaths. These figures have led to increased regulatory oversight that directly affects business operations.

The FDA's Food Safety Modernisation Act (FSMA) has transformed the nation's food safety system. The focus has shifted from response to prevention of foodborne illness. Now, every food company must:

Establish detailed food safety plans;
Implement preventive controls;
Maintain thorough traceability records;
Make supply chains transparent.

Operating in multiple markets adds another layer of complexity. Different regions have their own requirements, making compliance a major hurdle for your food technology business.

Funding

Today's funding environment presents several obstacles:

Declining venture capital – total venture capital investment is down 51%, making early stage funding harder to come by;
Market competition – AI now takes about 20% of all venture investment, creating more competition for funding;

Valuation pressure – median deal value increased to $4.00 million (up 33% from 2022), but total venture capital deals halved for the second year in a row.

According to Foodnagitors research investors like:

Sustainability solutions – companies that address environmental issues attract attention and choose green business models;
Technology integration – companies using AI and automation to improve efficiency are finding funding success with clear profit paths and strong unit economics;
Regulatory compliance – solutions that help with complex regulations are gaining traction.

The rise of AI-powered systems, automation tools and data-driven personalisation shows that technology adoption is no longer optional. These solutions can help you reduce costs, improve efficiency and meet changing customer expectations. Smart implementation of these technologies can lead to significant improvements in your operations while supporting sustainability goals.

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FAQ

What is a food tech startup?

Food tech startups use technology to innovate in the food industry, to innovate in the food industry, focusing on areas such as production, delivery, sustainability and customer experience. Examples include companies working on plant-based alternatives, robotics in food preparation, or AI-driven restaurant solutions. To find your niche don’t avoid conducting market research.

Which food startup is the best?

The "best" food startup depends on your perspective – whether it's sustainability, revenue or innovation. Companies like Impossible Foods (plant-based meats), DoorDash (delivery logistics) and Tovala (smart ovens) are widely regarded as leaders in their respective niches.

What are some food tech companies?

Beyond Meat (plant-based protein);
Zume (robotic pizza delivery);
Blue Apron (meal kits);
Too Good To Go (food waste reduction);
ChowNow (restaurant ordering platforms).

How profitable are tech start-ups?

Profitability varies widely depending on market demand, scalability and execution. While many tech startups initially struggle to break even, companies like DoorDash and Instacart have grown to dominate their industries and generate billions in revenue.

What kind of food can I make and sell?

Popular options include baked goods, sauces, organic snacks, meal prep kits and culturally unique dishes. Selling homemade food often works well at local markets or through delivery apps that cater to niche diets or preferences, such as gluten-free or vegan offerings.

Which food business is the most profitable?

Businesses that are easy to scale, have recurring demand and offer high margins tend to be the most profitable. Examples include meal delivery services, speciality foods (such as organic snacks) and ghost kitchens that operate solely for delivery.

What's the easiest food business to start?

Starting a home-based food business, such as baking cakes, selling packaged snacks, or offering meal prep services, is one of the easiest ways to start. With minimal investment, you can use local markets, social media or platforms like Uber Eats to grow your customer base.

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Foodtech Startup