Appetronix announced that it has closed more than $10 million in total seed funding, including an additional $6 million in a recent seed-plus round. Jim Grote, the Grote family, and AlleyCorp led the financing. This marks AlleyCorp’s third investment in the company, reflecting continued confidence in Appetronix’s progress and growth potential.
The new capital will support the development and deployment of multiple robotic kitchen concepts designed for high-traffic non-commercial foodservice settings. These include airports, hospitals, entertainment venues, universities, office buildings, and other locations where consistency, speed, and operational efficiency are essential.
Appetronix has demonstrated traction through its partnership with Donatos, the premium pizza chain founded by Jim Grote. Donatos operates more than 460 locations across 29 states and remains family-owned by Grote and Chief Purpose Officer Jane Abell. In June 2025, Appetronix and Donatos launched their first automated kitchen at John Glenn Columbus International Airport. The deployment has exceeded expectations, showcasing how robotics can deliver restaurant-quality experiences in institutional environments while enhancing operational efficiency.
The broader foodservice industry continues to face challenges tied to labor shortages, high turnover, and the need to maintain quality food preparation in environments with limited staffing. Appetronix’s robotic kitchens are designed to address these challenges by ensuring consistency, enabling extended operating hours, scaling across diverse venue sizes, and maintaining brand standards for partner foodservice concepts.
With the latest funding, the company plans to accelerate go-to-market expansion across multiple cuisine formats and operational models. Each robotic kitchen concept is being developed to meet the demands of institutional settings where reliable throughput, high-quality food, and operational sustainability are essential. The company remains focused on delivering solutions that automate all back-of-house functions, including portioning, cooking, plating, and cleaning, while preserving the taste and quality of restaurant-grade meals.
Appetronix, formerly known as SJW Robotics, continues to advance its position in intelligent kitchen automation with a team experienced in restaurant design, large-scale brand expansion, and robotics. The company’s mission centers on redefining how food is prepared and served in locations that high-quality food options have historically underserved.
KEY QUOTES:
“This investment validates our vision of bringing the best-in-class food experiences to environments that have traditionally been underserved. With the support of the Grote family and our continued partnership with AlleyCorp, we’re positioned to revolutionize how people experience food in airports, healthcare facilities, and entertainment venues.”
Nipun Sharma, CEO of Appetronix
“At Donatos, we’ve always believed that quality and consistency are non-negotiable. Appetronix’s technology allows us to deliver the authentic Donatos experience, while addressing the operational challenges facing our industry. We’re excited to support their expansion into new markets where this technology can make a real difference.”
Jim Grote, Founder of Donatos
“Following the rollout of Appetronix’s first automated kitchen, it’s been amazing to witness consumers’ excitement surrounding the new concept with Donatos. This first unit has proven that robotic kitchens can deliver authentic, high-quality food while bringing efficiencies to operators, in ways only robotic solutions can.”
Abe Murray, General Partner at AlleyCorp
