Sep 10, 2018

Restaurant concept Spyce raises $21 million in Series A funding

Dan Primack, author of Pro Rata

Machines that dispense meals at Spyce Food Co. are pictured in Boston on April 20, 2018. Photo: Jonathan Wiggs/The Boston Globe via Getty Images

Spyce, a Somerville, Mass.-based restaurant concept that features a robotic kitchen, raised $21 million in Series A funding co-led by CollabFund and Maveron.

Why it matters: Because this could be the future of fast-casual restaurants, although there are questions as to whether Spyce itself is being valued as a restaurant chain or a tech company.

  • Other investors include return backer Khosla Ventures, and chefs Thomas Keller, Jerome Bocuse, Daniel Boulud and Gavin Kaysen.

Bottom line: "The entire experience at Spyce, from start to finish, requires customers to interact with technology. Order on a touch screen, and then wait as a robot makes your Moroccan bowl. There are some human employees at Spyce — they help guide customers through the ordering process, if need be, and perform some tasks that the robots cannot, such as prepping ingredients and garnishing the finished plates." — Terrence Doyle, Eater Boston

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