OrderEAT raises US$2 million to digitalize school cafeterias across Latin America

OrderEAT, a platform that digitalizes cafeterias and school canteens in Latin America, closed a US$2 million funding round led by Chile Ventures, with participation from Driven VC and Add Ventures, both Chilean, as well as Seedstars and angel investors Sergio Fogel and Avedis Boudakian. The company, founded by Uruguayan entrepreneurs based in Mexico, operates in over 600 schools across Mexico, Chile, Argentina, Uruguay and Peru, serving more than 250,000 active students. Part of the capital will be used to strengthen operations in Chile with additional installations and closer support for concessionaires. The founders recognized that cash functions as a distrust filter in school cafeterias, preventing families from placing orders.

OrderEAT operates as a closed-loop wallet: families load balances and place preorders via an app, students pay without cash, and concessionaires manage menus, inventory, nutrition and sales in real time. Chile is a strategic market where OrderEAT already serves more than 50 schools, including Colegio La Salle de Temuco, Colegio Alemán de Concepción, Colegio Pedro de Valdivia in Peñalolén and Providencia, St Margaret’s School in Concón, Pumahue Puerto Montt and The International School Nido de Águilas in Santiago. "The funds that best understand this market led the round, which shows Chile is strategic for us. This capital is for installing well, accompanying well and growing in Chile," said Matías Craviotto.

The regional network expanded from 400 to 600 schools in less than six months, with a goal of reaching one million active students within 18 months. A case study from Oak’s Leadership School in Mexico showed a 70% sales increase, reduced payment time from two minutes to 20 seconds per student, and a daily time saving of nearly four hours after two years of operation. "We had parents who were afraid: ‘What will my child consume, and if they lose the money?’ With OrderEAT there was no doubt: I deposit the balance and place the order from my app," explained Andrea Molina, administrator of the school’s cafeterias.

Reported by Startups Latam.