WoodSpoon, an NYC startup that lets users order homemade food prepared by local chefs right to their door, announced Monday it closed on a $2 million seed round led by World Trade Ventures.
The idea for WoodSpoon came about when founders Oren Saar and Merav Kalish Rozengarten grew homesick for the Middle Eastern dishes of their native Israel. They wanted to create a place where local home chefs could share their culture and passion for cooking with others, and make some money while they’re at it.
Now, the company has become a way to support an industry that has been brought to its knees by the COVID-19 pandemic, providing an additional revenue opportunity for more than 100 chefs — some of whom have cooked at notable restaurants like Nobu and Jean-Georges’ Nougatine.
Other food delivery companies like Grubhub and DoorDash have also been making moves lately, riding the wave of a massive pandemic-fueled demand. Meanwhile, startups such as Tock, Pepper and Seated have either expanded or pivoted their business models completely to provide food and meal delivery services as well.
As for Woodspoon, the company officially launched in March and has since garnered more than 8,000 users across Manhattan, Brooklyn, Long Island City, Hoboken and Jersey City. Baked goods can also be shipped nationwide.
“Our vision with WoodSpoon always goes back to the idea of connecting people through food that is unique, homemade, and full of love,” said Saar in a statement provided to Built In.
This fresh funding will be used to market WoodSpoon, grow its team of chefs and expand into more states.
