Appetronix

Appetronix is a pioneering foodtech company specializing in the development and deployment of autonomous robotic solutions for commercial restaurant kitchens. The firm leverages artificial intelligence, robotics, and advanced automation to revolutionize the quick-service restaurant industry. Their core offering includes fully autonomous smart kitchen designs and patented robotic processes that enable the creation of made-to-order meals with zero onsite employees, operating 24/7. Appetronix's cutting-edge kiosks are designed for a small footprint and plug-and-play capabilities, making them suitable for a wide array of high-traffic locations such as airports, hospitals, universities, grocery stores, office towers, shopping malls, stadiums, and concert halls.

Founded in 2019 by Nipun Sharma, who serves as CEO, and Ray Schott, the Chief Innovation Officer, Appetronix was formerly known as SJW Robotics. The company was established to address significant operational challenges within the foodservice sector, including labor shortages, inconsistent product quality, and the demand for extended service hours. Their approach focuses on building kitchens from scratch, optimizing efficiency rather than merely replicating human movements, drawing inspiration from factory automation principles.

Appetronix has successfully secured over $10 million in total funding, including a $6 million seed plus round led by Jim Grote, the Grote family, and AlleyCorp. The company has forged a significant partnership with Donatos Pizza, a premium pizza chain, leading to the launch of fully autonomous robotic pizza kitchens in locations such as the John Glenn Columbus International Airport in Ohio. In April 2026, Appetronix acquired Cibotica, a Vancouver-based company specializing in ingredient dispensing and portioning technology. This strategic acquisition expands Appetronix's technological capabilities and fast-tracks its plans to introduce robotic kitchen concepts for multiple cuisines, including Asian noodle bowls and Mexican burrito bowls.

The leadership team at Appetronix brings extensive experience to the food robotics space. Nipun Sharma possesses over 17 years of leadership experience across the restaurant and food manufacturing sectors, having managed numerous restaurant brands. The team's collective expertise spans restaurant kitchen design, global restaurant chain expansion, advanced automation, robotics, and data science, positioning Appetronix at the forefront of innovation in the foodservice industry.