News Briefs

ClearCOGS, a leading provider of AI-powered predictive analytics for restaurants, has raised $3.8 million in an oversubscribed seed funding round. 

The investment was led by Closed Loop Partners' Venture Group, with additional participation from Myriad Venture Partners, and Level Up Ventures, a venture arm of Hearst Corp.

ClearCOGS AI Forecasting

Attendees at MURTEC 2025 Experience Matters got to see ClearCOGS in action in RTN's Ring of Fire Competition. 

ClearCOGS provides restaurant operators with precise daily forecasts to optimize food preparation, ordering, and staffing decisions. By addressing the industry's chronic challenge of food waste - responsible for over $25 billion in annual losses in the U.S. - the technology enhances operational efficiency while helping operators make smarter, real-time decisions that drive both profitability and sustainability.

"Food waste prevention is essential to building a sustainable and profitable restaurant industry," said Danielle Joseph, Managing Director and Head of the Closed Loop Ventures Group at Closed Loop Partners. "ClearCOGS offers an impactful solution that aligns perfectly with our mission to build a circular economy. By providing clarity and precision to restaurant operators, ClearCOGS is helping to reduce food waste while simultaneously driving stronger business outcomes."

Related:  Start-Up Spotlight: ClearCOGS Takes the Guesswork out of Restaurant Ops with Predictive Data

ClearCOGS leverages advanced AI technology to translate complex operational data into clear, daily guidance, enabling restaurant operators to reduce costs, increase efficiency, and enhance profitability in an industry historically burdened by tight margins and unpredictable demand.

"At ClearCOGS, we believe restaurant operators shouldn't have to navigate uncertainty alone," said Matt Wampler, CEO of ClearCOGS. "This funding empowers us to extend our reach and deliver the practical, reliable forecasting tools that restaurant operators need to consistently achieve better operational outcomes."

Myriad Venture Partners, a firm investing in next-generation leaders in AI and enterprise software, recognizes the transformative potential of ClearCOGS' solutions. "ClearCOGS exemplifies the type of startups we welcome into our portfolio: those leveraging cutting-edge technology to drive new efficiencies into the DNA of our top industries," said Chris Fisher, Founder and Managing Partner at Myriad Venture Partners. "We're excited to back a company with a platform that sets a bold new standard for how AI can drive lasting, tech-enabled transformation in food service."

The $3.8 million Seed round funding will accelerate ClearCOG's product development and customer acquisition efforts, positioning the company to rapidly expand its presence in the food service sector. ClearCOGS is already trusted by leading restaurant brands to optimize operational decisions, reduce waste, and elevate overall profitability.

Noodles & Company is offering its rewards members 14 days of exclusive offers on best-selling classics and new menu items.

 Launching April 12, the Taste Tour celebrates bold new flavors and upgraded classics with daily deals available only through the Noodles Rewards program.

New members who join the free program will unlock access to each day's offer, while existing members can opt into SMS notifications by texting SIGNUP to 47418 to receive daily announcements of exclusive dish deals. As a bonus, all members who opt-in via SMS will receive a special perk when the Taste Tour wraps up on April 26.

"At Noodles & Company, we're all about delivering flavor-packed dishes and real value to our guests," said Stephen Kennedy, senior vice president of marketing at Noodles & Company. "With the launch of Taste Tour, we're giving Noodles Rewards members a front-row seat to explore the bold new flavors that define our refreshed menu. Every day brings a new reason to come back, try something crave-worthy, and experience just how delicious change can be. We can't wait for guests to dig in."

Bold New Menu Items

The Taste Tour kicks off April 12 with a fan-favorite: a $5 regular bowl of Creamy Cheddar Mac & Cheese.

From there, Noodles Rewards members can enjoy 14 days of exclusive offers, including special pricing and BOGO deals on made-to-order favorites and bold new menu additions like Pulled Pork BBQ Mac & Cheese, Cajun Shrimp Fettuccine, and Rigatoni Rosa.

These limited-time deals go through the elevated menu—now featuring bigger flavor, more satisfying portions.

Members who sign up by April 12 will receive daily Taste Tour offers through April 25. From April 12 to April 25, Rewards members can visit any Noodles location nationwide to unlock these exclusive offers and discover what's new on the menu.

Noodles Rewards members earn points on every order that can be redeemed for fan favorites. Members also enjoy exclusive perks throughout the year—including surprise offers, special savings, and birthday rewards.

ProSafe, powered by WorldVue, a leading provider of workplace safety solutions for the hospitality industry, today announced a strategic partnership with RapidSOS, the AI-powered intelligent safety platform trusted by over 22,000 911 and first responder agencies. This collaboration enhances ProSafe’s panic button solutions by integrating RapidSOS’s advanced emergency response technology, ensuring faster and more efficient assistance for hospitality workers during critical incidents.

ProSafe’s patented beaconless, geo-location panic button platform and wearables—accessible on both iOS and Android—now seamlessly connect with RapidSOS to provide direct communication with 911 telecommunicators. This integration enables ProSafe devices to send real-time critical data, including precise location, entry instructions, and live emergency updates directly to emergency responders for faster incident resolution.

New features include:

·         Direct E911 capabilities for instant emergency response

·         Real-time audio and visual transmission to law enforcement for enhanced situational awareness

·         Indoor mapping technology to help first responders locate individuals in distress

“At ProSafe, we are committed to pushing the boundaries of workplace safety technology,” said Yazan Barqawi, CEO and Co-Founder of ProSafe. “Partnering with RapidSOS enhances our safety solutions with state-of-the-art emergency response capabilities, ensuring that when an incident occurs, informed help arrives faster and more efficiently. This partnership is a game-changer for safety in that it provides what’s transpiring to first responders in real-time when activated, ensuring that proper personnel is dispatched on the first go.”

"RapidSOS is committed to empowering first responders with the critical data they need to save lives. Our partnership with ProSafe represents a significant advancement in workplace safety, particularly within the hospitality sector,” said Karin Marquez, Chief Public Safety Brand Officer at RapidSOS. “By integrating ProSafe's innovative panic button technology with our intelligent safety platform, we're ensuring that when a hospitality worker activates that button, 911 telecommunicators receive real-time, actionable information. This level of data integration—precise location, live audio and visual feeds, and indoor mapping—is crucial for rapid and effective emergency response. Together, we're not just enhancing safety; we're creating a safer environment for those who serve us every day."

This partnership marks a major step in redefining workplace safety in the hospitality industry. By combining ProSafe’s industry-leading panic button technology with RapidSOS’s emergency response network, hotel staff now have unprecedented access to real-time safety support. Moving forward, ProSafe and RapidSOS will continue collaborating to bring even more advanced safety solutions to the hospitality sector and beyond.This partnership allows ProSafe to serve industries outside of hospitality such as healthcare, retail, education, etc.

Duetto, a provider of revenue management software for the hospitality industry, announced the acquisition of HotStats, a provider of financial benchmarking for hotels. The acquisition accelerates Duetto’s ambition to become the definitive revenue and profit operating system for the hotel industry, equipping hoteliers worldwide with a differentiated view of both their top-line revenue and operating performance across rooms, food & beverage, and ancillary services. 

“We’re thrilled to welcome HotStats into the Duetto family,” said David Woolenberg, CEO of Duetto. “By augmenting our existing suite of solutions with HotStats’ industry-leading financial benchmarking data asset, we’re able to deliver the industry’s most comprehensive solution for driving revenue and profit optimization. Together, we will reimagine what’s possible for hotel revenue and profitability.”

HotStats’ core offering in hotel profitability benchmarking enriches Duetto’s mission to unify every revenue stream under one platform. This new partnership will give hoteliers a clear, actionable view of their overall profits, driving data-backed decisions that increase efficiency and elevate the guest experience. 

“Duetto’s commitment to reshaping revenue and profit optimization resonates strongly with our complementary focus on actionable financial insights,” said Michael Grove, CEO of HotStats. “We see enormous potential in joining forces, extending our impact to help hotels identify opportunities to improve efficiency, better meet customer demand, optimize profitability across every facet of their operations.” 

“HotStats has long been a pioneer in profitability benchmarking, and it is only fitting that the next stage of its evolution will be with an equally visionary hospitality technology provider,” said Jonathan Langston, founder and retiring Chairman of HotStats. 

This acquisition spotlights Duetto’s dedication to strategic expansion under the ownership of GrowthCurve Capital, which acquired Duetto last year. By developing and employing advanced analytics, robust reporting, and an ever-evolving product suite, Duetto affirms its status as a go-to partner for hotels seeking a unified source of truth for their revenue intelligence and profitability metrics. The entire HotStats team will be joining Duetto as part of the transaction.

Houlihan Lokey served as financial advisor and Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe served as legal counsel to Duetto. Gately plc served as legal counsel to HotStats. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

Deployment of theQuore workflow management solution is underway at Palette Hotels, with all 25 of its properties expected to be live with engineering, housekeeping, front desk, management, and above property tools. Quore’s cloud-based, mobile ready, multilingual solution will soon enable the data centric hotel ownership and management company to stay harmoniously connected to staff while delivering the best guest experiences possible. 

“With our roots as owners, we understand firsthand that investing in technology is essential to staying in sync with the evolving expectations of modern travelers while delivering strong results for our owners through greater efficiency and streamlined operations,” said Richard Lou, founder and CEO, Palette Hotels. Greg Presnol, Vice President of Operations, added: “Since most of our regional directors were already familiar and comfortable with Quore, it was unanimously decided that this one-stop-shop solution is the one we need to thrive. It’s extremely easy for our teams to use—they know exactly where to go, what actions to take, and how to analyze reports to ensure that tasks stay on track and nothing falls through the cracks. By taking manual paper processes out of the equation, we expect to streamline operations and reap a quick return on our investment.”

All Palette Hotels representing Marriott, IHG, Hilton, Hyatt, Choice Hotels, Wyndham Hotels & Resorts, and Best Western brands will be improving internal communication and removing obstacles for employees through innovative workflow management processes. Leveraging the Quore dashboard, Palette Hotels can see how each hotel is performing by accessing information on problem resolution costs, top complaints, guest satisfaction insights, response times, PM compliance, portfolio-wide messaging, company inspection trends, and more.

“When choosing a management company, owners often ask about BI (business intelligence), AI (artificial intelligence) or other ways to digitize operations without realizing how much time and money can be saved by just automating front- and back-of-house processes,” Presnol said. “As we get deeper into onboarding, we are finding some untapped resources within Quore that were previously unknown to us. For example, we are just now diving into Quore’s CapEx functionality, and we’re learning how to add photos and other instruments to the system that will help us turn data into action. Our goal is to take full advantage of everything Quore has to offer.”

Presnol called the level of support provided by Quore, “phenomenal.” 

“Hats off to our Account Manager Jonathan Ferlez and the Quore deployment team,” he said. “They did a terrific job with onboarding and training, and we appreciate their flexibility with the robust timeline. Because of this state-of-the-art technology, we are resting easier knowing that owners’ assets are protected and associates have more time to take care of guests. Our people are planning ahead, staying organized, and making more consistent and confident decisions. Thanks to Quore, Palette Hotels is creating a better operating environment for everyone.” 

David Fox, Quore VP, Customer Experience, said he is delighted to add Palette Hotels to the company’s growing portfolio of satisfied customers.

“When a company such as Palette Hotels calls our service ‘phenomenal,’ it speaks volumes,” Fox said. “Deployments of this magnitude are never easy, but the backing we are getting from both the corporate and regional teams to bring this initiative to fruition is exciting and contributes to our ability to meet their rollout timeline. Soon communication across all Palette Hotels will be effortless, tasks will be completed in record time, and the analytical insights they will receive through our workflow reporting tools will help Greg and his teams make smarter business decisions.” 

Leanpath, the enterprise standard in food waste management for the foodservice and hospitality industry, today announced the launch of its innovative mobile reporting app. This new solution simplifies how chefs and kitchen managers engage with Leanpath data, bringing streamlined KPIs and actionable insights directly to their smartphones. This marks a significant step in making food waste prevention more accessible and integrated into daily kitchen operations.

The Leanpath app leverages AI to transform how culinary professionals interact with and respond to food waste data. By providing instant access to critical insights, the app empowers kitchen teams to make informed decisions that reduce waste, increase profitability, and enhance sustainability efforts.

"The foodservice industry is incredibly dynamic and every second counts," said Brennan Hogan, VP of Product at Leanpath. "Our new mobile app is a game-changer for busy culinary professionals. It's like having a food waste prevention expert in your pocket, offering real-time insights and recommendations throughout the day. It's about making food waste prevention as intuitive as checking your social media feed."

Key capabilities of the Leanpath food waste reporting app include:

• Mobile accessibility: Access valuable food waste insights and information on mobile devices throughout the day, wherever you are.
• Push notifications: Receive timely food waste alerts to stay informed of critical issues.
• Real-time waste data: Easily see top wasted foods and why foods are being wasted.
• AI-powered insights: Benefit from generative AI that offers insights into a kitchen's food waste data and recommends steps to improve efficiency.
• Visual waste streams: View photo streams of food waste to get more context on why and where waste is occurring.
• Integration with Leanpath platform: Works seamlessly with Leanpath's existing intelligent food waste management platform.

For more examples and real-life scenarios on how these features work, check out our in-depth blog post.

The Leanpath app integrates seamlessly with the company's existing food waste management platform, which has been instrumental in helping thousands of commercial kitchens worldwide improve their profitability and sustainability. Trusted by industry leaders such as Sodexo, Google, Compass, Aramark and many others, Leanpath's solutions have consistently delivered measurable results in waste reduction and operational efficiency.

"This app represents the next evolution in our mission to make food waste prevention an everyday practice in the world’s kitchens," added Hogan. "By putting food waste insights directly in the hands of culinary teams, we're enabling immediate action and fostering a culture of sustainability that can make a real difference in the fight against food waste."