Kitchit

Kitchit was a platform operating in the on-demand food technology sector, connecting consumers with professional chefs for in-home dining experiences. Founded in 2010 by Stanford graduates Brendan Marshall, Ian Ferguson, and George Tang, the company aimed to provide a restaurant-quality meal service within the comfort of a client's home. Marshall, who previously worked as an investment banker, and Ferguson started the company to merge their interests in technology and food after participating in the StartX accelerator program at Stanford.

The business initially launched as a marketplace for booking private chefs for customized events, including dinner parties and cooking lessons. This model allowed chefs, from up-and-coming talent to Michelin-starred professionals, to build their personal brands and connect directly with diners. Kitchit's revenue was generated by taking a percentage of the fee from these bespoke, high-end culinary events. The service expanded from its San Francisco origins to operate in Los Angeles, Chicago, and New York. In December 2014, the company secured $7.5 million in a Series A funding round led by Javelin Venture Partners, with participation from investors like a16z and 500 Global, bringing its total funding to $8.1 million.

In 2015, Kitchit pivoted its business model to focus on a more standardized, on-demand service called "Kitchit Tonight." This offering featured pre-set, three-course menus starting at a fixed price of $39 per person. The service included the chef preparing the meal in the customer's home, serving it, and handling the cleanup. This strategic shift from high-end custom events to a more accessible, scalable model was intended to capture a larger market. However, the company faced intense competition in the crowded food-tech space and struggled with profitability. Despite serving over 100,000 meals, Kitchit was unable to secure further funding and ultimately ceased operations in April 2016, citing that its scale was too limited to overcome the challenges in the market. Keywords: private chef, in-home dining, personal chef service, on-demand food, chef marketplace, catering startup, food tech, Kitchit Tonight, Brendan Marshall, Ian Ferguson, Javelin Venture Partners, StartX, restaurant experience at home, private event catering, professional chefs, custom menus, gastronomic service, gourmet meal delivery, home cooking service, dining experience