31 Hottest Food and Beverage Startups to Follow in 2023

Every year, new startups pull to the forefront of their industry through exciting innovation, tech, and industry-disrupting business models. We’ve rounded up the top food and beverage startups of 2023 that startup-lovers, investors, and aspiring entrepreneurs should follow.

Disclaimer: With so many exciting food and beverage companies launching and growing worldwide, we aren’t able to cover them all. Furthermore, the startups that are listed below are not officially ranked and are listed in no particular order.

• Location: San Francisco, California
• Founders: Jash Mehta, Blair Hardy
• Founded In: 2015
• Funding: $5.2 Million
• Investors Include: Able Partners, Torch Capital

Pop & Bottle is a coffee startup revolutionizing the ready-to-drink market. During their launch in 2015, the startup offered alternatives to the standard energy drink options with better-for-you, plant-based lattes and teas in eye-catching, pastel packaging. 

• Location: New York, New York
• Founders: Benjamin Witte, David Hess, Justin Hauser
• Founded In: 2017
• Funding: N/A
• Investors Include: Evolution VC Partners, M3 Ventures, CX Collective

Recess is a wellness beverage brand that crafts sparkling water beverages enhanced by hemp extract and adaptogens to help drinkers achieve “balance and clarity.” Additionally, Recess sells drink powders enclosed in its impeccable packaging.

• Location: San Jose, California
• Founders: Seema Shenoy
• Founded In: 2019
• Funding: Crowdfunding, $320,000
• Investors Include: Product Crowdfunding

Zero Knowledge is a certified minority woman-owned company that creates innovative products promoting healthy lifestyles and sustainability. Zero Knowledge's products — the ZK Cube, Omnipan, and ZK Bar — are thoughtfully made and eco-friendly, reflecting serial entrepreneur Seema Shenoy's passion for healthy living and the environment. The business also donates 10% of its profits to Climate Change Initiatives and Solutions.

• Location: Paris, France
• Founders: Charles Boes
• Founded In: 2015
• Funding: Series Unknown, €5.1 Million
• Investors Include: Demeter, Kima Ventures

Foodvisor is a food app that instantly analyzes the nutrients in food to provide users with a helpful tool to ensure healthier, smarter eating habits. Plus, the app can estimate serving sizes and provide a detailed nutritional report that is easy to implement in the user’s journey to a healthy relationship with food.

• Location: Detroit, Michigan
• Founders: Brian Rudolph, Patrick Kiruki, Scott Rudolph
• Founded In: 2014
• Funding: Series B, $28.8 Million
• Investors Include: Prelude Growth Partners, Enlightened Hospitality Investments, Beachwood Capital

Banza is a food startup that focuses on pasta products. Their primary ingredient for their products is chickpeas. Banza has been featured in a litany of highly-regarded food publications and is sold in over 8,000 stores across the US. Buy Banza on Amazon today!

• Location: Brooklyn, New York
• Founders: Are Traasdahl, Dag Liodden
• Founded In: 2016
• Funding: Series B, $61 Million
• Investors Include: 9 Yards Capital, Ridgeback Capital

Crisp is a food software startup that helps food manufacturers and companies be more efficient through their food supply forecast platform. Using a data compilation system that includes sales, inventory, retail portals, weather, holidays, and additional marketing data, Crisp provides critical information for major players in the food industry.

• Location: New York, New York
• Founders: Sol Broady
  
• Founded In: 2019
• Funding: Seed, Undisclosed
• Investors Include: Seaside Ventures

Leilo is a beverage company offering a calming, healthy alternative to alcoholic beverages and energy drinks with a surprise ingredient — kava! The startup has since gone on to partner with sports leagues, grocers, and more across the country. You can buy Leilo directly on the website or through Amazon!

• Location: Lanham, Maryland
• Founders: Duane Myko
  
• Founded In: 2019
• Funding: Series A, $6.3 Million
• Investors Include: CircleUp, 301 INC

Everything Legendary is an innovative food startup that creates plant-based food products free from gluten and soy. Their primary product is plant-based meat alternatives that boast exceptional flavor and texture.

• Location: Dorset, Vermont
• Founders: Mark Hyatt
  
• Founded In: 2014
• Funding: Pre-Seed, $250,000
• Investors Include: Weclikd

Tost Beverages is an online ecommerce company that sells various dry non-alcoholic sparkling beverages customers can purchase on-demand. They use natural ingredients in all of their beverage products and craft them to have lower calories and a dry but not too sweet refreshing taste. No matter the occasion, if you want a great beverage, it may be worth giving Tost a sip.

• Location: New York City, New York
• Founders: Katina Mountanos
  
• Founded In: 2020
• Funding: $5 Million
• Investors Include: Lakehouse Ventures

Kosterina is a olive oil-centered food and wellness startup. The company offers a wide range of products from oils to skincare all crafted with top-tier extra virgin olive oil. 

• Location: San Francisco, California
• Founders:  Kevin Li, Pradeep Elankumaran
  
• Founded In: 2016
• Funding: Series B, $34.4 Million
• Investors Include: Aidenlair Capital, Duro Ventures

Farmstead is an AI-powered app that facilitates the delivery of groceries from farmers to consumers' doorsteps. Plus, users of the app can discover new recipes using their Smart Shopping List feature.

See more San Francisco food startups to follow.

• Location: Bellevue, Washington
• Founders: Madeline Haydon
  
• Founded In: 2013
• Funding: Private Equity, $35.1 Million
• Investors Include: VMG Partners, CircleUp

Nutpods specializes in alternative milk products such as nut and oat milk, coffee creamer, and tea creamer. Nutpods products are Whole30 approved, kosher, Non-GMO, vegan, and gluten-free certified.

Feeling inspired? Learn how to launch your company with our guide on how to start a startup.

• Location: Minneapolis, Minnesota
• Founders: Alexander French, Andrew Healy
  
• Founded In: 2015
  
• Funding: Series Unknown, $7.2 Million
• Investors Include: Sidekick Partners, Food-X,  M25

Bizzy Coffee is a cold brew coffee startup that offers a range of cold brew and coffee products including concentrates, brew kits, and more. The startup has risen in popularity, making it the number one selling cold brew on Amazon.

See also our list of innovative coffee startups to follow.

• Location: San Francisco, California
• Founders: Adam Zbar, Braxton Woodham, George Nachtrieb, Justine Kelly, Tyler MacNiven
  
• Founded In: 2014
• Funding: Convertible Note, $143.1 Million
• Investors Include: PivotNorth Capital, Sapphire Ventures, August Capital

There are several meal delivery subscription startups; however, Sun Basket sets itself apart from the competition by offering healthy, organic ingredients for customers to make unique and tasty recipes with ease. The company also offers alternative meal kits for a litany of dietary restrictions such as paleo, gluten-free, and vegetarian.

• Location: London, United Kingdom
• Founders: Saasha Celestial-One, Tessa Clarke
  
• Founded In: 2015
• Funding: Series B, $53.1 Million
• Investors Include: VNV Global, Rubio Impact Ventures, Octopus Ventures

OLIO is a food-sharing app that aims to connect communities to reduce food waste. Unwanted food items can be shared with people in the same neighborhood; the app is free to use and available globally.

• Location: New York, New York
• Founders: Jennifer Batchelor, Matthew Cauble
• Founded In: 2017
• Funding: Series Unknown, $5 Million
• Investors Include: Canaan Partners, Refactor Capital, Two Culture Capital

Kin Euphorics is an adult beverage startup that offers nourishing nootropics, replenishing Botanics, and balancing adaptogens in their product catalog. Their bestselling beverages include an herbaceous mood-boosting spirit called “High Rhode,” a sparkling blend of ginger, bitters, a tart citrus titled “Kin Spritz,” and a sample pack that lets you try two of their bestsellers to find peace, calm, energy, and clarity in your day.

Explore more top startups in NYC.

• Location: New York, New York
• Founders: Joe Ariel, Joel Gillman, Trevor Stow, Vanessa Torrivilla
• Founded In: 2012
• Funding: Series C, $133.1 Million
• Investors Include: Spectrum Equity, Enlightened Hospitality Investments, Intel Capital

Goldbelly is a startup making an online delivery platform where customers can find artisan and specialty food products to purchase, try, eat, and enjoy. They have everything from custom food boxes called “Weekender Boxes” to chef meal kits, seafood, and ice cream. If you’re craving something different and want to try some artisan or specialty foods, there’s no doubt you’ll find something that catches your eye on Goldbelly.

• Location: San Francisco, California
• Founders: Keith Belling
• Founded In: 2017
• Funding: Series Unknown, $5.5 Million
• Investors Include: AccelFoods, Blueberry Ventures, Next Play Capital, Karlie Kloss

Rice is something millions of people around the world eat every day, and Right Rice is looking to put a healthy spin on the everyday pantry staple. This California startup is changing the game with its vegetable-based rice alternative that’s low in net carbohydrates and high in protein and flavor.If you want to try a tasty rice grain without worrying about the carbs, Right Rice is the perfect solution!

• Location: New York, New York
• Founders: Carter Comstock, Michael Wystrach
• Founded In: 2012
• Funding: Series C, $107 Million
• Investors Include: Nestle, White Star Capital, Monkfish Equity

Freshly is a startup that delivers a variety of ready-made gourmet meals cooked by a chef to your doorstep immediately after they’ve been prepared to perfection. This is the perfect food delivery solution for busy professionals or anyone who doesn’t have enough time to cook their own meals, especially if food quality and healthy food options are important.

• Location: San Mateo, California
• Founders: Erik Pfleiderer
• Founded In: 2021
• Funding: Unknown
• Investors Include: TRAC

Brewbird is a startup developing a unique technology platform aiming to scale the $100 billion specialty coffee market. They’re on track to release their innovative coffee machine with the vision of redefining coffee in the 21st century.

Check out our full list of the top Silicon Valley Startups to watch.

• Location: Boston, Massachusetts
• Founders: Liza Becton, Frank Lee, Sean Grundy
• Founded In: 2013
• Funding: Series D, $130.3 Million
• Investors Include: Bessemer Venture Partners, Trinity Ventures, Horizons Ventures

Bevi is a startup developing smart water dispensers that consumers can use to flavor sparkling beverages on demand. Using their water dispensers, either their standup office dispenser or smaller countertop alternative, you can mix various flavors and add enhancements to your water in seconds. Stay hydrated by drinking delicious, flavorful water with Bevi.

Discover more of the top Boston startups to watch.

• Location: San Francisco, California
• Founders: Sam Nasserian
• Founded In: 2014
• Funding: Series A, Undisclosed Amount
• Investors Include: Start Capital, Click Ventures

Cozymeal is creating the top marketplace for culinary experiences. Whether you want team-building events hosted by top-rated local chefs or immersive cooking classes, you can browse experiences on the Cozymeal marketplace. There’s no better way to try a new experience with loved ones than by immersing yourself in one of Cozymeal’s offerings.

• Location: St. Paul, Minnesota
• Founders: Kishan Vasani
• Founded In: 2015
• Funding: Seed, $1.6 Million
• Investors Include: SRI Capital, Techstars Farm to Fork Accelerator, Arts Alliance

Spoonshot is a startup redefining food and beverage intelligence by creating a platform that can answer critical questions through data analytics and artificial intelligence (AI). They combine domain knowledge, high-velocity data pools, validated answers, and other data points to provide personalized insights, research, and predictions about the food industry. Customers can use Spoonshot to predict meaningful trends, articulate customer needs, map out innovation areas, and more.

• Location: San Francisco, California
• Founders: Ben Simon, Benjamin Chesler, Ron Clark
• Founded In: 2015
• Funding: Convertible Note, $229.1 Million
• Investors Include: Norwest Venture Partners, Hamilton Lane, Insight Partners

Imperfect Foods is building a weekly grocery delivery system to eliminate food waste and build a better food system for everyone on the planet. When you use Imperfect Foods for grocery delivery, you’ll have affordable and sustainably sourced ingredients brought right to your door, including pantry items, snacks, produce, dairy, meat and fish, and more. All groceries come in 100% recycled boxes; they use one van to reduce CO2 emissions and take back your packaging after dropping off your order.

• Location: Boston, Massachusetts
• Founders: Nadine Habayeb, Priyal Bhartia
• Founded In: 2018
• Funding: Seed, Amount Undisclosed
• Investors Include: Omakase Investment Club

Bohana is changing how we snack by delivering popped water lily seeds to the masses. Water lily seeds are an Ayurvedic superfood that has been used for centuries. The foundation of Bohana is listening to your body and determining what works for you to become your best self. In Ayurveda, water lily seeds are among the most prescribed seeds, particularly because they benefit all body types due to their alkaline characteristics.

See also our list of fast-growing snack food startups to watch.

• Location: San Francisco, California
• Founders: Eliza (Timpson) Ganesh, Jordan Schenck
• Founded In: 2018
• Funding: Series A, $10 Million
• Investors Include: Desert Angel LLC

Sunwink is a startup dedicated to creating refreshing sparkling tonics and superfood powders that can fit into any daily routine. Every single one of their tonics and powders contains superfoods and incorporates plant-powered wellness into your day. Their products are perfect for debloating and fostering happy digestion, promoting glowing skin, detoxing and supporting your immunity, and restoring your body and de-stressing.

• Location: Toronto, Canada
• Founders: Hilary McCain
• Founded In: 2018
• Funding: Seed, $2.5 Million
• Investors Include: Lerer Hippeau, RiverPark Ventures, Subversive Capital

Sweet Reason sells beverages that contain powerful blends of adaptogens, calming herbs, and broad spectrum hemp CBD to help you unwind. For anyone who wants to clear their mind and calm down their brain after a hectic day, hemp CBD lets you slow down and finally achieve calm. It’s important to note that hemp CBD is not psychoactive and does not result in a “high” — rather, it’s the perfect way to calm your mind.

• Location: Los Angeles, California
• Founders: Eliott Kessas, Ross Mackay
• Founded In: 2018
• Funding: Series C, $113.8 Million
• Investors Include: Founders Fund, D1 Capital Partners, Jaws Ventures

Daring Foods is reinventing chicken by creating a plant-based chicken protein that looks, tastes, and feels just like the real thing. They have original chicken breast, breaded chicken, cajun chicken, lemon and herb chicken, and more – all made from plants without harming any live chickens in the process. The Daring Foods team loves eating chicken but also believes that the way we treat animals and our environment is incredibly important. They’re working to bring plant-based chicken to the world and help make our environment a better place to live.

• Location: Austin, Texas
• Founders: Karsten Idsal, Kennett Parkes
• Founded In: 2011
• Funding: Venture, $2.4 Million
• Investors Include: Private

Hapi Drinks is creating sugar-free drinks for kids that taste delicious and keep them coming back for more. Compared to a traditional drink like Capri Sun, Hapi Drinks contain no sugar (16 grams less), 55 fewer calories, and 90% daily value of vitamin C. By drinking Hapi, we’ll have more healthy and happy kids who have fewer health problems further down the line.

Discover more top startups in Austin.

• Location: New York, New York
• Founders: Marc Lore
• Founded In: 2018
• Funding: Series B, $850 Million
• Investors Include: Bain Capital Ventures, Forerunner Ventures, General Catalyst

Wonder is a food startup with an incredible idea — instead of having your food cooked at a restaurant and delivered to your door just in time for it to get cold, they pull up a mobile kitchen right outside your home and cook your food just a few steps away! Wonder is introducing a new home dining experience where you can have fresh and delicious meals cooked on a mobile restaurant just minutes before you enjoy them.

• Location: Boston, Massachusetts
• Founders: Cory Rellas, Justin Robinson, Nicholas Rellas, Spencer Frazier
• Founded In: 2012
• Funding: Series C, $119.6 Million
• Investors Include: Avenir Growth Capital, Tiger Global Management, Polaris Partners

Drizly created an alcohol marketplace that allows customers to purchase a wide variety of wine, beer, and spirits online. To make this a reality, they partnered with retailers in over 235 different markets to let anyone of legal drinking age get an unrivaled personal shopping experience that’s transparent and enjoyable. If you’re looking for a great selection of drinks and want to take advantage of convenient on-demand shipping and delivery, Drizly is the perfect place to go.

Recommended: Check out our full list of the top startups to watch in 2023!