Tovala, a Chicago-based Y Combinator-backed food startup, has launched a Kickstarter to raise $100,000 for its new self-titled smart oven. Within just hours of its debut, the campaign has successfully secured over $60,000 thanks to nearly 200 backers.
The Tovala oven is described as a multi-functional kitchen appliance and food-delivery plan that supposedly works together so that users cans enjoy fresh home cooking quickly and easily. It bakes, broils, steams and convection heats just like a combination oven that professional chefs use.
“Our delicious Tovala meals are curated by master chefs, made from scratch, and delivered fresh to your doorstep, ready to cook. All you do is scan your meal’s barcode, put it in your Tovala, and press start. In 10 to 30 minutes your meal comes out freshly cooked and ready to eat.”
The Tovala oven is also a connected device. Users can use their mobile device to cook one of the company’s specially prepared meals or any other recipe they wish.
During a recent interview with Chicago Inno, founder of Tovala David Rabie stated:
“All we had was a crazy idea a year and half ago and we’ve run through multiple prototypes, and now we have 30 prototypes that work that we’ve put in people’s homes that produce delicious food, so I think there is evidence that our team has delivered beyond expectations. The next steps will be showing that people want to buy it.”
Rabie went on to explain:
“As a replacement device, it’s turning your kitchen smarter than it was before. Being able to use those in tandem is something chefs have used for decades in kitchens, and we’re bringing that to homes.”
Chicago Inno revealed that Tovala, originally called Maestro, won the University of Chicago New Venture Challenge in 2015. Earlier this year, it raised a $500,000 pre-seed round, rebranded, and were accepted to Y Combinator’s winter 2016 cohort. Rabie noted that if the Kickstarter is successful (which it is looking to be promising) the device should be delivered by Christmas 2016. The oven is currently available for $199 (early bird special).
The campaign is set to close on April 6th.
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