Bite

# High-Level Overview

There are two distinct companies named "Bite" in the technology space, each serving different markets. The primary Bite relevant to restaurant technology is a digital ordering and payment solutions provider for the food service industry[1]. Founded in 2015 and based in New York, Bite specializes in intelligent kiosk solutions, mobile ordering applications, and contactless payment systems designed to enhance guest experience and operational efficiency for quick-service restaurants, food halls, and ghost kitchens[1][2].

Bite's core value proposition centers on streamlining the ordering and payment process through customizable, AI-powered software[2]. The company has raised $18.28M in Series A funding and serves as a challenger to established players like Lightspeed Commerce, NCR Voyix, and Toast[1]. Their proprietary AI algorithm, Bite Lift, delivers personalized menu recommendations that drive an average 20% increase in check sizes compared to traditional cashier experiences, while simultaneously providing operators with consumer behavior insights to reduce costs and improve order accuracy[2].

# Origin Story

Bite was founded in 2015, emerging during a period of accelerating digital transformation in food service[1]. The company's founding reflected a clear market need: restaurants seeking to modernize their in-store ordering experience while managing labor costs and improving operational efficiency. The company's trajectory demonstrates traction in the restaurant technology space, with backing from investors including SOSV, Tamarisc, One Way Ventures, Food-X, and Staley Capital Advisers[1]. Notable partnerships include collaborations with established brands like Ono Hawaiian BBQ, a 117-location family-owned chain leveraging Bite's intelligent kiosk solution for growth[1].

# Core Differentiators

• Patented AI Technology: Bite Lift, the company's proprietary algorithm, provides data-driven menu recommendations based on order history and external factors, directly impacting revenue per transaction[2]

• Comprehensive Solution Stack: Rather than offering point-of-sale systems alone, Bite integrates self-service kiosks, mobile ordering, and contactless payments into a unified platform[1][2]

• Measurable Business Impact: The 20% average increase in check sizes represents a quantifiable competitive advantage that resonates with restaurant operators focused on revenue optimization[2]

• Industry Expertise: The company positions itself as "the foremost expert in the digital in-store experience," with deep understanding of fast-casual and quick-service restaurant operations[2]

# Role in the Broader Tech Landscape

Bite operates within the broader restaurant technology modernization trend, where legacy point-of-sale systems and manual ordering processes are being displaced by intelligent, data-driven alternatives. The timing is critical: post-pandemic, restaurants face persistent labor shortages and rising wage pressures, making automation and efficiency gains economically essential rather than optional[2].

The company rides several converging forces: consumer demand for faster, frictionless ordering experiences; operator pressure to improve margins in a competitive market; and the maturation of AI and mobile technologies that make sophisticated personalization economically viable at scale. Bite's positioning as a challenger to incumbents like Toast reflects a market dynamic where specialized, modern solutions are fragmenting what were once monolithic POS categories.

# Quick Take & Future Outlook

Bite's trajectory suggests continued growth in a market where restaurant operators increasingly view technology as a competitive necessity rather than a cost center. The company's focus on measurable outcomes—check size increases, operational efficiency, reduced labor dependency—aligns with how modern restaurant operators evaluate technology investments.

Looking forward, Bite's evolution will likely depend on several factors: expansion beyond quick-service into full-service dining, deepening AI capabilities to drive even higher personalization, and potential consolidation activity as larger POS providers seek to acquire modern, AI-native competitors. The company's Series A stage and recent funding suggest they are well-positioned to scale, though competition from better-capitalized players like Toast and Lightspeed remains intense. The broader trend of hospitality automation—from ordering to payment to kitchen operations—creates both opportunity and pressure for Bite to expand its platform scope or risk becoming a point solution in an increasingly integrated ecosystem.