Startup Popchew Secures $3.6 Million From Investors

By James White | Friday, 11 March 2022 | Startup, Food & Beverage

Startup company Popchew helps content creators and influencers generate revenue from their own line of branded foods. The food delivery business recently secured $3.6 million in new funding from investors to continue to build out its platform.

Locking Down Seed Support From Investors

San Francisco-based venture capital firm Long Journey Ventures led the latest funding round for the startup company. Long Journey Ventures typically invests in early-stage startups across a number of different industries. The venture capital firm’s portfolio includes robotics food delivery business Serve Robotics, mobile ecommerce startup Cashdrop, and multiplayer video game developer Mountaintop Studios, among others.

“The current landscape of food delivery is boring,” said Lee Jacobs, a general partner at Long Journey Ventures. “While there has been innovation in convenience for consumers, the space has no soul. It shouldn’t be that way. Food is full of emotion, and Popchew is creating deeper connections between creative people and their fans around such an important category.”

Long Journey Ventures was joined by several supporting investors during the seed round for the startup company. Popchew also found support from Anti Fund, Flybridge, WndrCo, the Uber Alumni Syndicate, and numerous angel investors, such as Rus Yusupov, Steven Galanis, Rich Antionello, Scott Belsky, Anthony Pompliano, Matteo Franceschetti, and more.

Funding generated from investors during the seed round will help the startup business continue to develop its platform. The food delivery company plans to launch new brands with content creators on a monthly basis as its platform continues to expand. According to a press release from Popchew, the business has already launched brands with cryptocurrency investor Pompliano and YouTuber Zias.

New Brands and Revenue Streams

Co-founded by entrepreneurs Nick Sopchak and Rushir Parikh, Popchew helps content creators generate more revenue from their business by building digitally native food brands.

Once content creators join the Popchew platform, they are given control of their brand, packaging, marketing, and menu items. Meanwhile, the startup company works with its independent kitchens and vendors to handle administrative tasks such as logistics, customer service, ingredient sourcing, and training. By owning equity in the brand, content creators can generate recurring revenue each month that the brand is live.

Restaurant owners and partnering businesses are prepared to work with Popchew through personal onboarding services. The business does not charge restaurants additional food delivery fees but instead takes a 20% cut from sales as a platform fee.

Users may order branded menu items through Popchew’s own food delivery platform or through third-party services like DoorDash and Uber Eats. In addition, content creators may offer a chance for customers to win prizes or earn points toward rewards when ordering branded items.

Building Brands in the Growing Online Food Delivery Industry

The online food delivery industry has been on the rise for some time now. Meanwhile, the global pandemic has only accelerated the adoption of services like DoorDash, Uber Eats, and Postmates. Market research expects the global online food delivery market to reach more than $192 billion by 2025.

Popchew is not only tapping into the food delivery industry but also the expanding creator economy as well. According to Influencer Marketing Hub, the creator economy is valued at more than $104 billion.

About the Author

James White

James White is a Michigan State University graduate with a BS in Environmental Biology. He is interested in reporting emerging trends in technology, especially with regard to alternative energy and environmental conservation.