Flippy maker Miso Robotics buys Zume IP to launch pizza automation

Miso Robotics has acquired the technology and intellectual property of the defunct pizza robotics startup Zume to expand its automation portfolio. The acquisition includes over 300 patents and hardware designs that Miso plans to leverage for a new line of pizza-making robots. This move comes as Miso seeks to capitalize on increasing industry demand for automation driven by labor shortages and high operational costs.

Miso Robotics, the Pasadena-based developer of the Flippy fry-cooking robot, has finalized the purchase of Zume’s hardware, software, and extensive patent portfolio. Although the financial terms of the deal were not disclosed, the acquisition provides Miso with more than 300 patents ranging from robotics to specialized food packaging. CEO Rich Hull stated that the move is intended to "crack" the pizza automation market, which has seen several companies like Piestro and Picnic struggle or fail in recent years. Hull emphasized that Zume’s technology was high-quality but suffered from being too early for a market that had not yet reached its current level of labor-driven demand.

Zume was originally a Silicon Valley standout that raised $375 million from SoftBank at a $2.25 billion valuation, famously attempting to bake pizzas in delivery vans. While that specific mobile-cooking model failed, Miso intends to utilize Zume's core robotic preparation technology, which is capable of stretching dough, applying sauce and toppings, and managing the baking and boxing process. Hull noted that most of Zume's innovations are agnostic to the mobile aspect and can be effectively integrated into stationary kitchen environments. This acquisition follows Zume's 2023 liquidation and marks a significant consolidation of intellectual property within the food robotics sector.

The deal represents Miso's second acquisition of the year, following its purchase of the operations app Zignyl, as the company transitions from a hardware manufacturer to a vertically integrated technology provider. Since receiving a major investment from EcoLab and hiring Hull, Miso has focused on creating a "one-stop shop" for restaurant automation. The company’s flagship product, Flippy, is currently active in seven states and used by brands like White Castle to automate 90% of fry station labor. Miso is now actively seeking restaurant partners to co-develop its new pizza robotics platform using the newly acquired Zume assets.