Hyphen has closed a $25 million Series B funding round to ramp up production and nationwide deployment of its Automated Makelines. The round includes new participation from CAVA Group, Inc. (NYSE: CAVA), marking the fast-casual chain’s first investment in an outside technology company.
The funding will help accelerate Hyphen’s transition from prototype to production scale, getting its robotic kitchen lines into more restaurant locations across the U.S.
Restaurants are grappling with two major pain points: the rise of digital ordering and ongoing staffing shortages. A study from Service Management Group found that three in four customers choose a competitor if their favorite restaurant isn’t available online.
Hyphen’s solution—a blend of AI and robotics—aims to ease this pressure by increasing order throughput, reducing mistakes, and freeing up staff to focus on guest-facing roles.
“This new funding is a testament to the impact Hyphen's team and technology are having on restaurant operations,” said Stephen Klein, Co‑Founder and CEO of Hyphen.
“As we continue to scale, we're eager to invest in and test technology that can enhance—not replace—the human experience,” said Brett Schulman, Co‑Founder and CEO of CAVA.
With this new capital, Hyphen is ramping up production via Re:Build Manufacturing, a U.S.-based manufacturing company co-founded by Miles Arnone and Jeff Wilke. This partnership is set to transition Hyphen’s makelines from factory floor to restaurant-ready deployment at scale.
To support installations and maintenance across the country, Hyphen has teamed up with Ricoh USA, Inc., leveraging its network of over 15,000 certified field technicians. This ensures restaurants can rely on consistent performance and service nationwide.
Founded to automate the back-of-house process in foodservice, Hyphen helps restaurants handle the growing demand for online orders without compromising speed or quality. Its Automated Makeline is built to streamline order production, increase peak-hour efficiency, and give staff more time to focus on hospitality.
Co-founded by Stephen Klein, Hyphen is now positioning itself as a key player in the evolving restaurant tech space. Its platform is especially suited for fast-casual brands navigating digital orders and labor pressures simultaneously.
CAVA’s investment represents its first direct investment in restaurant tech, underscoring the brand’s belief in Hyphen’s potential.
“By piloting Hyphen's automated digital makeline, we have the opportunity to increase order accuracy and speed during peak digital hours, while reducing complexity for our team members,” said CAVA CEO Brett Schulman.
The deal also builds on Hyphen’s relationships with earlier investors and operational partners, including Ricoh and Re:Build, suggesting a broader coalition supporting the company’s scale-up phase.
