ClearCOGS has raised $4.0M in total across 1 funding round.
ClearCOGS's investors include Closed Loop Partners, Fifth Wall, HG Ventures, Urban Innovation Fund, Lyndon Rive, Peter Rive.
ClearCOGS is an AI-driven platform that provides predictive forecasting for restaurant operations, helping operators optimize food preparation, inventory ordering, labor scheduling, and cost control to reduce waste and boost profitability.[1][2][4][6] It serves restaurant chains, franchisees, and enterprise operators—including brands like Jimmy John’s, Breadless, Cali BBQ, and Goop Kitchen—by integrating seamlessly with POS systems like Toast to deliver real-time, data-driven playbooks without manual input.[3][4][6][7] The company tackles chronic industry pain points like $25 billion in annual U.S. food waste, offering up to 59% waste reduction and $2,000–$10,000 in monthly savings per location while cutting labor costs and environmental impact.[1][3][4][7]
Founded in 2021 (with some sources noting 2022), ClearCOGS has gained traction through pilots and a $3.8M seed round, demonstrating strong growth momentum via customer wins and expansions into labor and menu forecasting.[1][6][7][8]
ClearCOGS was founded in 2021 in Collegeville, Pennsylvania (with operations noted in Chicago), by Matt Wampler, a former Jimmy John’s franchisee with hands-on restaurant operations experience, and Osa Osarenkhoe, a computer engineer and entrepreneur.[1][6] The idea emerged from Wampler's firsthand challenges in predicting daily demand for food prep and staffing amid variables like weather, holidays, and seasonality—tasks too complex for general managers without AI support.[3][6][7] Formerly known as Restaurant Analytics, the company pivoted to its current AI-focused model, securing early pilots like a MURTEC 2023 debut that won Goop Kitchen, saving $6,800 in one month, and integrations with Jimmy John’s for bread baking forecasts.[1][4][7]
This operator-led origin humanizes ClearCOGS as "Moneyball for restaurants," turning gut-feel decisions into analytics-driven precision, much like data transformed baseball on a budget.[7]
ClearCOGS stands out in restaurant tech through AI-powered, prescriptive tools that simplify operations without disrupting workflows. Key strengths include:
These features reduce managerial burden, enabling focus on core duties while driving efficiency and eco-benefits.[3][6]
ClearCOGS rides the AI-for-ops wave in foodservice, where post-pandemic labor shortages, inflation, and sustainability mandates amplify demand for predictive tools amid $25B+ annual waste.[1][6][7] Timing is ideal as restaurants adopt POS integrations and real-time analytics, with ClearCOGS influencing the ecosystem by proving AI's tangible ROI—e.g., waste cuts align with circular economy goals, attracting investors like Closed Loop Partners.[1][6] Market forces like rising food costs (20-30% of revenue) and staffing pressures favor its bolt-on model, positioning it to shape enterprise standards alongside competitors in restaurant AI, while reducing environmental footprints through data-driven efficiency.[2][5][7]
ClearCOGS is poised for rapid scaling post-$3.8M seed (led by Closed Loop, Myriad, Level Up/Hearst), expanding forecasting to emerging trends like dynamic menus and multi-location analytics.[6][7] Trends like AI ubiquity in hospitality, Toast ecosystem growth, and ESG pressures will propel it, potentially capturing share in a fragmented market as chains prioritize profitability amid economic volatility. Its operator roots ensure sticky adoption, evolving influence from pilot darling to enterprise staple—tying back to its core promise of turning operational uncertainty into clear, daily wins for restaurants worldwide.[1][4][5]
ClearCOGS has raised $4.0M across 1 funding round. Most recently, it raised $4.0M Seed in April 2025.
| Date | Round | Lead Investors | Other Investors |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 1, 2025 | $4.0M Seed | Closed Loop Partners, Fifth Wall, HG Ventures, Urban Innovation Fund, Lyndon Rive, Peter Rive |
