INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
Sizl, a cook-to-order delivery service based in Chicago, seeks to change this perception by delivering meals made with fresh ingredients in
around 30 minutes flat.The company announced its recent $3.5 million seed round on Tuesday, at a $12 million post-money valuation.Unlike
typical dark kitchens, which serve as shared spaces for various restaurants, Sizl says it runs its own kitchens with a small team of
Ukrainian cooks and local culinary talent from Chicago who prepare the food
It also has its own delivery couriers and even a mobile app where you can earn rewards.Image Credits:SizlBecause dark kitchens typically
operate without a traditional dine-in space and focus solely on delivering takeout orders, this can lead to inconsistency in the food
produce from local suppliers, including Greensys, an organic farm in central Illinois
However, the company admits to also working with large distributors like US Foods and Sysco, although it emphasizes that a significant
portion of its ingredients come from local sources.Additionally, many ghost kitchens offer a wide variety of foods but lack specialization
includes only 60 items at a time, ranging from dishes like chicken Kyiv and pierogies to everyday meals like grilled cheese and spaghetti
Kolesnikov (CEO), Nick Delitski, and Kyrylo Kupin (CMO) are originally from Ukraine and have prior experience in building a dark kitchen
association with dark kitchens is that they rely on third-party delivery platforms, saturating Uber Eats, DoorDash, and Grubhub apps with
mobile app that uses game mechanics to engage customers
Every time a customer orders or logs in to the app, they collect themed cards that can be used to unlock rewards
Sizl also has an in-app currency (mojis) and mini games
angel investors, including Mike Alexandrovski, who co-founded delivery startup Borzo.The funding will go toward opening up to four
additional kitchens in Chicago this year, adding to its two existing locations
later this year or early 2026.
