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SideChef, a Santa Monica-based cooking instruction app, has just raised $1 million in seed funding from Chinese venture capital firm Empower Investment and Hong Kong-based investment firm Peacock Capital.
“We are excited to be partnering up with a group of investors who really support our vision of making cooking and learning new recipes significantly easier and more accessible for everyone,” said SideChef CEO and founder Kevin Yu in a statement.
The app gives amateur cooks step-by-step instructions and pictures for over 1000 recipes. Those recipes come from about 100 food bloggers world wide and represent a variety of cuisines, including recipes that accommodate gluten-free, low-fat and vegan needs. So that users don’t have to dirty their phones while cooking, the app has automatic timers and voice controls. Amateur chefs can also share their recipes with other users on the app, a feature that SideChef is hoping will turn the app into a community of cooks. SideChef is available for iOS and Android phones and tablets.
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Kevin Yu, a video game industry veteran from Blizzard Entertainment’s World of Warcraft, launched SideChef in March 2014. Though the company is now based in Santa Monica, it was originally based in Shanghai, China, where it still employs a staff of about 10.
The startup plans to use its new capital to improve the SideChef app and work on business development. They are looking to partner with companies to expand their library of recipes and other content, including cooking techniques.
“SideChef strives to revolutionize cooking with technology by making it easier and more fun,” said John Au, director of Peacock Capital. “The team is brilliant, and they have done a fantastic job in making SideChef awesome. We are delighted that we are part of this exciting company.”
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