Technology

Cava invests in Hyphen's automated makelines

Photo: Hyphen

August 18, 2025

Hyphen, a company that provides automated meal production for restaurants, has secured $25 million in Series B financing to expand its operations. The funding round, led by Cava Group Inc., will allow Hyphen to scale production of its automated makelines and deploy them in restaurants across the United States.

"This new funding is a testament to the impact Hyphen's team and technology are having on restaurant operations," Stephen Klein, Hyphen's co-founder and CEO, said in a company press release. "We are galvanized by this investment to scale our manufacturing, support our growing customer base, and continue innovating as we build the future of foodservice."

Cava co-founder and CEO Brett Schulman said the company is interested in technology that can improve the customer experience without replacing human interaction.

"By piloting Hyphen's automated digital makeline, we have the opportunity to increase order accuracy and speed during peak digital hours, while reducing complexity for our team members, he said in the release. "That means more time spent delivering exceptional hospitality and crafting the Mediterranean flavors our guests love."

Cava joins Chipotle

Cava isn't the first fast casual brand to partner with Hyphen. Chipotle rolled out Hyphen's avocado-processing cobot last year and invested in the company as early as 2022.

Hyphen will partner with U.S. manufacturing company Re:Build Manufacturing to ramp up production. The company has also selected Ricoh USA Inc. as its field service partner to handle installations and provide ongoing support.