AI-integrated food company Starday secures US$11M in Series A funding
This funding is aimed at expanding its retail partnerships and accelerating the development of innovative food products.
USA – Starday, a US-based company focused on food innovation through artificial intelligence, has successfully completed an US$11 million Series A funding round.
The investment was led by Slow Ventures and Equal Ventures and consists of US$8 million in equity, along with a US$3 million debt credit facility from Silicon Valley Bank. This latest round brings Starday’s total funding to US$20 million.
Co-founded by Chaz Flexman, Lena Kwak, and Lily Burtis, Starday utilizes artificial intelligence to identify unmet consumer needs and develop tailored products for retail distribution.
With this new funding, Starday plans to introduce 14 new products across its four brands, including the recently launched Habeya Sweet Potato Crackers and All Day Chickpea Protein Crunch, now available in major grocery chains like Kroger and Hannaford.
Starday’s innovative approach positions it as a leader in a stagnant market, where traditional growth has slowed. Retailers are increasingly turning to Starday to drive category expansion through data-informed product development.
The company’s strategy focuses on creating bespoke products that meet specific market demands, particularly in high-growth segments such as allergen-free snacks.
“AI empowers food product developers with powerful tools for data analysis, trend prediction, and rapid iteration, bridging the gap between consumer desires and technical formulation,” said CEO Chaz Flexman.
Flexman explained that the purpose behind founding Starday was to enable retailers and brands to harness AI, human creativity, and industry expertise to craft and launch the next generation of food products more efficiently.
He noted that this new influx of capital marks the next phase of Starday’s growth, which includes expanding the retail presence for its brands, collaborating with retailers to create unique opportunities for consumers, and partnering with food companies to help them introduce new products and brands to the market.
Starday’s model facilitates rapid product development, shortening the timeline from concept to market launch from years to just a few months.
This agility is particularly appealing to retailers looking to enhance their competitive edge in an increasingly crowded marketplace. Starday’s products have performed better than established brands in key retail locations, indicating a strong market reception.
“They’re not just launching products – they’re building a platform that helps retailers enter and grow in new, innovative categories at a fundamentally lower cost. That kind of structural advantage is rare in consumer packaged goods,” said Will Quist of Slow Ventures.
With plans for further retail expansion and additional product launches throughout 2025, Starday aims to redefine how food brands are created and scaled.
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