KAIKAKU, a revolutionary start-up aiming to combine the power of AI and robotics to revolutionise the restaurant industry, has been founded by 22-year-old serial entrepreneur Josef Chen. With a team of respected innovators and “do-ers”, the company is striving to automate repetitive tasks to empower hospitality staff and make the industry more dynamic and engaging.
Chen, who founded his first successful venture at just 17 years old, has a personal connection to the industry, having grown up in a Chinese Restaurant family. He says: “Having experienced all the problems first-hand and seeing my parents struggle to find staff, I have thought about ways to radically change the industry almost every day.”
KAIKAKU’s Chief Technology Officer is Dr David Sharp, who has a remarkable track record of delivering breakthrough innovations as former Head of Ocado Technologies 10x and Head of Engineering of Ocado’s Autonomous Mobility Team. He has commented: “There is an exciting opportunity to apply the latest automation, robotics and AI technologies to transform the customer proposition and operational economics for the quick service restaurant sector.”
The company also boasts Chief Development Officer Piers Millar, who was convinced by Chen to drop out of his studies at the London School of Economics. Millar has a wealth of experience, having worked in McDonald’s and helped Chen scale a dark kitchen dessert brand to 6 figure revenues within three months. He has confidently predicted that “by 2030, robotics will be a common sight at restaurants and cafes.”
KAIKAKU has also assembled an impressive advisory board featuring industry veterans such as Don Fertman, former Chief Development Officer of Subway, David Crean, former Global Chief Science Officer at Mars Inc and Jonathan Hart, former Managing Director of Caffè Nero and CEO of Thorntons.
Leading restaurant chains are already embracing technology to streamline their operations and elevate customer experiences, emphasising the immense potential that KAIKAKU is poised to harness.
A new start-up, KAIKAKU, is looking to revolutionise the restaurant industry by combining the power of AI and robotics. Founded by 22-year-old serial entrepreneur Josef Chen and boasting an impressive team of respected innovators and “do-ers”, the company is focused on automating repetitive tasks to empower hospitality staff and make the industry more dynamic and engaging.
Dr David Sharp, the company’s Chief Technology Officer, has commented: “There is an exciting opportunity to apply the latest automation, robotics and AI technologies to transform the customer proposition and operational economics for the quick service restaurant sector.” Chief Development Officer Piers Millar has also predicted that “by 2030, robotics will be a common sight at restaurants and cafes.”
KAIKAKU’s advisory board is made up of industry veterans such as Don Fertman, former Chief Development Officer of Subway, David Crean, former Global Chief Science Officer at Mars Inc and Jonathan Hart, former Managing Director of Caffè Nero and CEO of Thorntons.
Leading restaurant chains are already embracing technology to streamline their operations and elevate customer experiences, indicating the immense potential that KAIKAKU is poised to harness.
Derick is an experienced reporter having held multiple senior roles for large publishers across Europe. Specialist subjects include small business and financial emerging markets.