Megan Harper
Hostie, a San Francisco-based AI platform designed to streamline guest communication for restaurants, has secured $4 million in Seed funding. The round was led by Gradient Ventures (Google’s AI-focused fund), with participation from Burst Capital, Behind Genius Ventures, Daring Ventures, and notable angel investors including Thomas Layton (former CEO of OpenTable) and Michael Stoppelman (former SVP of Engineering at Yelp).
Founded by Randall Hom, a restaurateur, and Brendan Wood, an AI engineer, Hostie addresses the challenge of managing high volumes of guest inquiries across multiple channels. The platform automates responses to calls, texts, and emails, enabling restaurants to handle reservations, takeout orders, and event inquiries without diverting staff from in-person service.
Since its inception, Hostie has been adopted by several top-tier restaurants, including those recognized by the Michelin Guide and James Beard Foundation. The company reports that its AI system now answers over 80% of incoming communications for its clients, significantly reducing missed opportunities and enhancing operational efficiency.
A growing number of founders are building industry-specific AI platforms to solve these operational challenges—explore more interviews here.
Key Details
- Company: Hostie
- Funding: $4M Seed
- Headquarters: San Francisco
- Investors: Gradient Ventures, Burst Capital, Behind Genius Ventures, Daring Ventures, Thomas Layton, Michael Stoppelman
- Use Case: AI-powered automation of guest communication for restaurants
