- Aniai plans to use the funds to launch its first manufacturing facility, Factory One, in South Korea.
- The company aims to deploy a cloud-based AI software platform, Alpha Cloud, for the Alpha Grill robot.
- Aniai experiences increasing demand for Alpha Grill, with around 500 pre-orders received; deliveries are set to start in Q1 2024.
Aniai, a startup that created a burger-grilling robot called Alpha Grill, announced today that it has raised $12 million in funding. This brings their total funding to $15 million.
The money will be used to launch their first manufacturing facility, Factory One, in South Korea. Additionally, the company plans to deploy a cloud-based AI software platform called Alpha Cloud for the robot.
Aniai, headquartered in New York, plans to launch Factory One this year to meet the increasing demand for Alpha Grill. They have already received around 500 pre-orders, with deliveries starting in the first quarter of 2024.
The manufacturing facility will have the capacity to produce over 1,000 robots annually. The company's double-sided Alpha Grill, introduced in 2022, can cook 200 patties per hour or eight patties simultaneously, with the assistance of human staff.
The Alpha Grill is equipped with cloud-based AI software and a real-time vision sensor, allowing it to perceive its surroundings and monitor the color, temperature, shape, and quality of the patties on the grill.
If a patty does not meet the required cooking specifications, Alpha Grill promptly alerts the cooking staff to ensure quality control. Aniai is also working on its second product, Alpha Kitchen, which is expected to launch in 2025.
Alpha Kitchen will automate the entire burger-making process, including cooking patties, toasting buns, and dispensing vegetables and other ingredients.
Edited by Shruti Thapa
