Zero Grocery Inc is a technology company.
Zero Grocery Inc has raised $100K across 1 funding round.
Zero Grocery Inc has raised $100K in total across 1 funding round.
Zero Grocery Inc has raised $100K in total across 1 funding round.
Zero Grocery Inc's investors include AngelPad, Blackbird Ventures Australia, Felicis Ventures, Precursor Ventures, Signia Venture Partners, Eric Hahn.
Zero Grocery Inc. is a now-defunct startup that developed a plastic-free grocery, home, and personal care delivery service, emphasizing zero-waste packaging and automated, hassle-free restocking.[1][2] Founded in 2019 by Zuleyka Strasner, it targeted eco-conscious consumers in the San Francisco Bay Area, solving the problem of plastic pollution in grocery delivery through a circular supply chain that refined sourcing, packaging, and returns.[3][4] The company raised $12 million in seed funding in February 2022 from investors like Sway Ventures but shut down just a month later in March 2022, despite early traction in sustainable retail.[4][5]
Zero Grocery was founded in 2019 by Zuleyka Strasner, a one-woman founder with a background as Chief of Staff at Felicis Ventures and Varo Money, policy advisor to Jeremy Corbyn, and holder of a Master's in Politics from Oxford.[1] Strasner, originally British and based in Redwood City, launched the company out of Berkeley/San Francisco to create a "magical" grocery delivery service that was 100% zero plastic, inspired by frustration with wasteful, hassle-filled traditional options.[1][2][3] Early momentum included building a team of food lovers and securing investments from sustainability-focused VCs like Sway Ventures, Portfolia, and Concrete Rose Capital, culminating in a $12M seed round in February 2022.[1][4] However, the startup abruptly ceased operations in March 2022.[5]
Zero Grocery rode the 2019-2022 boom in sustainable consumer tech and grocery delivery, accelerated by pandemic demand for contactless services and rising awareness of plastic waste (e.g., single-use packaging in services like Instacart).[3][4] Its timing capitalized on VC enthusiasm for climate tech, evidenced by $12M seed funding amid green supply chain trends, but market forces like high operational costs in zero-waste logistics and post-pandemic delivery saturation contributed to its rapid shutdown.[4][5] The company highlighted challenges in scaling circular economy models in food retail, influencing discussions on feasible paths for eco-delivery startups amid competition from giants like Amazon and Imperfect Foods.
Zero Grocery's swift rise and fall underscores the high-stakes risks in sustainable grocery tech: strong differentiation in zero-plastic delivery couldn't overcome execution hurdles, as seen in its March 2022 closure despite fresh funding.[5] Looking ahead, trends like regulatory pushes for packaging reduction (e.g., EU plastic bans) and AI-optimized supply chains could revive similar models, but survivors will need leaner ops and broader margins. Strasner's experience positions her for future ventures, potentially evolving Zero's legacy into more resilient climate-focused consumer plays—echoing how early sustainability pioneers refine the path for scalable, plastic-free retail.
Zero Grocery Inc has raised $100K across 1 funding round. Most recently, it raised $100K Seed in March 2019.
| Date | Round | Lead Investors | Other Investors |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 1, 2019 | $100K Seed | AngelPad, Blackbird Ventures Australia, Felicis Ventures, Precursor Ventures, Signia Venture Partners, Eric Hahn |