Health-conscious meal kit companies have sprung up over the past few years, offering to ship tasty dishes with locally-sourced ingredients to customers’ doorsteps. Often these businesses, which are smaller in size than HelloFresh or Blue Apron, have a difficult time selling their products online and finding shipping partners to transport perishable foods. To alleviate those headaches, an Austin-based startup created an e-commerce solution and recently secured new funding.
Prado announced on Monday it raised a $5.75 million seed round led by Bonfire Ventures. With the new capital, Prado plans to scale its team and platform.
Prado’s e-commerce and logistics platform helps meal kit delivery companies market, sell and ship their products to customers. The company specializes in working with brands that provide fresh and healthy foods and can transport perishable items to customers in a timely manner. In addition to creating digital storefronts, the platform also collects data so companies know how well their products are selling.
“This funding underscores Prado’s mission of improving health and wellness through better food,” Jon Carter, co-founder and CEO of Prado, said in a statement. “Through personalized, affordable and culturally relevant food options, we’re bullish on leading the charge in transforming the health, economy and security of our nation.”
According to Carter, Prado’s all-in-one software helps food and beverage companies grow their operations and focus on creating tasty dishes for customers. The platform can also help serve food deserts across the country where high-quality ingredients and meals tend to be limited.
Prior to launching Prado, Carter was the CEO of meal prep company Snap Kitchen, which produced and delivered healthy meals to customers.
