Tovala
{{short description|Meal delivery service and oven manufacturer}}
{{Infobox dot-com company
| logo =
| name = Tovala
| area_served = United States
| industry = Meal kit
| foundation = {{Start date and age|2015}}
| founder = {{Unbulleted list|David Rabie|Bryan Wilcox}}
| location = Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
| homepage = {{URL|https://www.tovala.com/}}
}}
Tovala is a meal-kit and oven company based in Chicago, Illinois. It sells a series of smart ovens that combine baking, broiling, air frying, and steam cooking and which can be controlled by an app.
History
Tovala was co-founded in 2015 by CEO David Rabie and CTO Bryan Wilcox. It won a venture challenge at the University of Chicago.{{cite news |last1=McLean |first1=Tessa |title=Maestro, the Keurig for food, wins top prize at New Venture Challenge {{!}} Built In Chicago |url=https://www.builtinchicago.org/2015/05/29/maestro-keurig-food-wins-top-prize-new-venture-challenge |access-date=16 March 2024 |work=Built In Chicago |date=29 May 2015 |language=en}} Initially named Maestro and nicknamed the "Keurig for food," it launched with a Kickstarter in January 2016 that raised $256,000.{{cite news |last1=Rekdal |first1=Andreas |title=Dishing up dinner and fixing democracy: These were our favorite launches in 2016 {{!}} Built In Chicago |url=https://www.builtinchicago.org/2016/12/22/top-product-company-launches |access-date=16 March 2024 |work=Built In Chicago |date=23 December 2016 |language=en}} That year, it was also accepted into the Y Combinator accelerator program.{{cite news |last1=Rekdal |first1=Andreas |title=Maestro, ‘the Keurig for food,’ rebrands as Tovala {{!}} Built In Chicago |url=https://www.builtinchicago.org/2016/01/18/keurig-food-now-taking-preorders |access-date=16 March 2024 |work=Built in Chicago |date=18 January 2016 |language=en}}{{cite web |title=Tovala: A smart-oven-paired subscription meal service. |url=https://www.ycombinator.com/companies/tovala |website=Y Combinator |access-date=16 March 2024 |language=en}}{{cite news |last1=Rekdal |first1=Andreas |title=The "Keurig for food" joins YC class of 2016 {{!}} Built In Chicago |url=https://www.builtinchicago.org/2016/03/07/chicago-startup-tovala-y-combinator |access-date=16 March 2024 |work=Built in Chicago |date=7 March 2017 |language=en}}
Tovala launched to the general public in 2017. It also raised a $9.2 million Series A round that year, led by Origin Ventures, and acquired the Chicago-based food-delivery service Radish.{{cite news |last1=Mohan |first1=Pavithra |title=Smart oven startup Tovala just got a cash infusion of $9.2 million |url=https://www.fastcompany.com/40509253/smart-oven-startup-tovala-just-got-a-cash-infusion-of-9-2-million |access-date=16 March 2024 |work=Fast Company |date=18 December 2018}}{{cite news |last1=Rekdal |first1=Andreas |title=Tovala just served up a $9.2M Series A {{!}} Built In Chicago |url=https://www.builtinchicago.org/2017/12/18/tovala-chicago-food-startup-9m-series-a |access-date=16 March 2024 |work=Built In Chicago |date=18 December 2017 |language=en}}{{cite news |title=Tovala Raises $9.2M Series A Round to Fund Expansion |url=https://thespoon.tech/tovala-raises-9-2m-series-a-round-to-fund-expansion/ |access-date=16 March 2024 |work=The Spoon |date=18 December 2017}}{{cite news |last1=Rekdal |first1=Andreas |title=Tovala acquires Radish, bolstering food delivery credentials |url=https://www.builtinchicago.org/blog/tovala-acquires-radish-bolstering-food-delivery-credentials |access-date=16 March 2024 |work=Built In Chicago |date=14 November 2017 |language=en}} In 2020, the company raised a $20 million Series B round of capital, led by Finistere Ventures and including Comcast Ventures, OurCrowd, Rich Products Ventures, Pritzker Group Venture Capital, and the University of Chicago.{{cite news |title=This ‘smart oven’ company raised $20 million to help people cook at home |url=https://www.fastcompany.com/90511891/this-smart-oven-company-raised-20-million-to-help-people-cook-at-home |access-date=16 March 2024 |work=Fast Company |date=2 June 2020}}{{cite news |last1=Tepper |first1=Nona |title=Tovala Raises $20M to Install Its Smart Oven in More Home Kitchens {{!}} Built In Chicago |url=https://www.builtinchicago.org/2020/06/01/tovala-raises-20m-series-b |access-date=16 March 2024 |work=Built In Chicago |date=2 June 2020 |language=en}} It added a $30 million Series C round in 2021, led by Left Lane Capital.{{cite news |last1=Glover |first1=Ellen |title=Tovala Raises Another $30M to Grow Its Meal Delivery, Food Tech Business {{!}} Built In Chicago |url=https://www.builtinchicago.org/2021/02/04/tovala-raises-30m-hiring |access-date=16 March 2024 |work=Built In Chicago |date=5 February 2021 |language=en}}{{cite news |last1=Rabie |first1=David |title=Even with Y Combinator pedigree we initially struggled with fundraising. That was a blessing in disguise |url=https://www.fastcompany.com/90654525/even-with-y-combinator-pedigree-we-initially-struggled-with-fundraising-that-was-a-blessing-in-disguise |access-date=16 March 2024 |work=Fast Company |date=13 July 2021}} As of 2024, it has raised a total of $68.6 million and employs about 375 people.
The company has released several generations of its countertop smart ovens, most recently the Tovala Smart Oven and the Tovala Smart Oven Pro, which includes steam cooking.{{cite web |title=Tovala - Smart Oven. Fresh Meal Delivery Service. 1 Minute of Prep. |url=https://www.tovala.com/smart-ovens |website=tovala.com |access-date=16 March 2024 |language=en |date=5 September 2022}}{{cite news |last1=Hines |first1=Michael |title=Tovala just launched a redesigned version of its smart oven {{!}} Built In Chicago |url=https://www.builtinchicago.org/2018/11/13/tovala-second-generation-steam-oven |access-date=16 March 2024 |work=Built In Chicago |date=13 November 2018 |language=en}} They have ranged in price from $300 to $400, which substantial discounts for customers who also sign up for the company's meal-kit service.{{cite web |title=Tovala - Smart Oven. Fresh Meal Delivery Service. 1 Minute of Prep. |url=https://www.tovala.com/smart-ovens#pricing |website=tovala.com |access-date=16 March 2024 |language=en |date=5 September 2022}}
References
{{reflist|2}}
External links
{{Portal|Companies|Food}}
- [https://www.tovala.com/ Official website]
{{Online food ordering}}
{{Authority control}}
Category:Online food retailers of the United States
Category:American companies established in 2015
Category:Retail companies established in 2015
Category:Transport companies established in 2015
Category:Internet properties established in 2015
Category:Food and drink companies based in Chicago