The gig economy has soared during the pandemic, with lockdowns ushering in a new era of flexible income generation opportunities. Home cooks are now able to leverage technology to earn income by preparing and selling home-cooked meals. DishDivvy is a marketplace that connects these home chefs to local customers. Each chef on the platform is vetted before they are able to join the platform and cooks are charged 15% of each order, with rolling payouts. Customers can order through the app for pick up or delivery. Now live throughout California, the marketplace is expanding to Austin, Chicago, Charlotte, Baltimore, and Washington, D.C.
LA TechWatch caught up with DishDivvy CEO and Cofounder Ani Torosyan to learn more about the inspiration for the business, the company’s strategic plans, recent round of funding, and much, much more…
Who were your investors and how much did you raise?
Raised $1.3M in pre-seed funding, led by 10X Ventures with participation from early employees and senior executives of DoorDash, Etsy, Eaze, and MasterClass.
Tell us about your product or service.
DishDivvy is a marketplace that connects skilled home cooks to local customers. DishDivvy is currently available throughout California and is actively onboarding cooks in Austin, Chicago, Charlotte, Baltimore, and Washington, D.C.
What inspired the start of DishDivvy?
Food delivery 1.0 was all about convenience, but that doesn’t cut it anymore. Consumers also want food that is unique and healthy, and tapping into our talented local home cooks solves that need in a community-focused way.
How is it different?
Unlike asset-heavy models in the space that need to cover storage facilities, delivery fleets, and multiple employees, DishDivvy’s tech stack enables efficient asset utilization with limited additional overhead costs. Its innovative seller tools empower home cooks to create and serve ready-to-eat, freshly prepared food on-demand through pickup or delivery.
What market you are targeting and how big is it?
The estimated $6B home restaurant market sits within the larger $1T restaurant industry and is poised to grow quickly. The propagation of the passion and gig economy, accelerated by the likes of Uber, Airbnb, and DoorDash, has made people more attuned to the notion of monetizing their skills to become their own boss. DishDivvy’s home cooks are able to tap into that entrepreneurial desire to meet consumers’ growing demand for authentic, local food that is fresh and affordable.
What factors about your business led your investors to write the check?
“DishDivvy is reimagining the future of food by providing a platform that champions the individual culinary creator to turn their unique cooking skills into turnkey home restaurants, all the while helping their surrounding communities eat better,” said Prahar Shah, an early employee at DoorDash who is currently a managing director of 10X Venture and member of DishDivvy’s board.
What are the milestones you plan to achieve in the next six months? Where do you see the company going now over the near term?
DishDivvy will use the funds to accelerate expansion in key markets by investing in product development, operations, and team growth.
