Hyphen Raises $25M in Series B Funding with CAVA Group Participation to Accelerate Automated Makeline Expansion

Foodservice automation platform Hyphen has raised $25m in a Series B funding round, with participation from CAVA Group. The investment will accelerate the Automated Makeline platform from factories to restaurants across the US, reducing waiting times and enhancing staff productivity. CAVA Group has also reported a 20.3% revenue increase to $278.2m for Q2, driven by new restaurant openings and same-restaurant sales growth.

Foodservice automation platform Hyphen has secured $25 million in Series B funding, with participation from CAVA Group. The investment will accelerate the deployment of the Automated Makeline platform, aiming to reduce waiting times and enhance staff productivity across restaurants in the US.

The funding will support Hyphen's expansion strategy, which includes collaborating with US-based Re:Build Manufacturing and leveraging Ricoh USA's extensive network of certified technicians for nationwide installation. The Automated Makeline platform is designed to streamline restaurant operations by reducing waiting times and assisting staff members, allowing them to focus more on customer service.

CAVA Group, known for its Mediterranean fast-casual restaurants, has reported a 20.3% revenue increase to $278.2 million for the fiscal second quarter (Q2) ended 13 July 2025. This growth is attributed to the opening of 75 new CAVA restaurants and a 2.1% rise in same-restaurant sales, driven by menu pricing and product mix. Despite a slight dip in restaurant-level profit margin from 26.5% to 26.3%, CAVA Group posted a net income of $18.4 million, or 6.5% of revenue.

Hyphen's CEO and co-founder, Stephen Klein, expressed his enthusiasm about the investment, stating, "This new funding is a testament to the impact Hyphen's team and technology are having on restaurant operations. We are galvanized by this investment to scale our manufacturing, support our growing customer base, and continue innovating as we build the future of foodservice."

The investment from CAVA Group follows Chipotle Mexican Grill's initial investment in Hyphen in 2022, as part of the chain's Cultivate Next Fund. Chipotle has not invested additional money in Hyphen since the summer of 2024.

Cava plans to use Hyphen’s makeline to process digital orders in the back of house, aiming to increase order accuracy and overall speed of service. The Mediterranean fast-casual brand has not begun testing Hyphen’s equipment in stores but intends to do so in 2026, with broader deployment expected after that.

[1] https://finance.yahoo.com/news/foodservice-platform-hyphen-gains-25m-154659140.html
[2] https://www.restaurantdive.com/news/cava-chipotle-invest-hyphen-automated-makeline/757450/