Kitopi
Series C+Kitchen as a Service
Cloud kitchen platform enabling restaurants to open delivery-only locations with managed infrastructure and smart kitchen technology.
About
Kitopi is the world's leading Kitchen as a Service (KaaS) platform, enabling restaurant brands to expand into delivery by operating their menus from Kitopi's managed cloud kitchens. Founded in Dubai in 2018 by four former McKinsey consultants, the company built a proprietary Smart Kitchen Operating System (SKOS) that uses AI-powered analytics to optimize kitchen operations, predict demand patterns, and minimize food waste. Kitopi partners with 200+ restaurant brands and operates 200+ kitchens across five countries โ UAE, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Bahrain, and Qatar. By consolidating multiple brands under one roof, Kitopi reduces operational costs by up to 30% for its restaurant partners. The company achieved unicorn status in July 2021 after raising $415M in a Series C round led by SoftBank Vision Fund 2, reaching a $1B+ valuation. In 2024, Kitopi generated $165.7M in revenue with a 2,300-person team.
DailyDropout Take
Kitopi caught our attention as a rare Middle Eastern startup tackling the massive ghost kitchen opportunity with a full-stack approach. While competitors offer kitchen space, Kitopi built an entire operating system โ from AI-powered demand prediction to end-to-end kitchen management โ creating a true platform play. With four ex-McKinsey founders and SoftBank backing, they were positioned to define the cloud kitchen category.
Discovery signal: Rapid expansion across Gulf states, ex-McKinsey founding team, unusually large funding rounds for MENA region, proprietary SKOS technology platform
What Makes Them Unique
Kitopi is the only cloud kitchen platform that combines a fully managed Kitchen as a Service model with a proprietary AI-powered Smart Kitchen Operating System, enabling restaurants to launch delivery-only locations with zero capital expenditure while Kitopi handles all kitchen operations end-to-end.
$165.7M
Revenue
200+
Kitchens
200+
Restaurant Partners
~2,300
Team Size
5
Countries
Target Markets
Founders
Mohamad Ballout
Co-Founder & CEO
Former McKinsey consultant. Built Kitopi from a single cloud kitchen in Dubai into a billion-dollar platform operating 200+ kitchens across five countries.
Saman Darkan
Co-Founder & CTO
Former McKinsey consultant. Leads Kitopi's technology and engineering, including the proprietary Smart Kitchen Operating System (SKOS).
Bader Ataya
Co-Founder
Former McKinsey consultant. Played a key role in Kitopi's early growth and operational strategy.
Andy Arenas
Co-Founder
Former McKinsey consultant. Contributed to Kitopi's founding vision and early-stage operations.
Kitopi is hiring!
Team size: ~2,300
Funding History
Lead: MSA Capital
Lead: Knollwood & Lumia Capital
Valuation: $1B+
Lead: SoftBank Vision Fund 2
Lead: Undisclosed
Investors
Firms
Gallery
Press & News
Kitopi announces $415 million Series C funding round
Dubai cloud kitchen company Kitopi raises $415m in funding round led by SoftBank
Kitopi raises $300 million Series C round extension
Full-service cloud kitchen brand Kitopi raises $60M