CNBC·2025-12-30 18:42Core Insights - Hyphen has raised $25 million in a Series B funding round to enhance its production capabilities and expand its rollout across U.S. restaurants [1] - Major restaurant chains like Chipotle and Cava are investing in Hyphen's automated makelines to improve efficiency and customer service [3][8] Funding and Investment - The Series B round included up to $10 million from Cava, with Chipotle investing a total of $25 million through its Cultivate Next venture fund by Q3 2025 [2] - The makelines cost between $50,000 and $100,000, with restaurant customers often seeing a return on investment in under a year [5] Technology and Operations - Hyphen's technology automates parts of the service process, addressing speed and labor challenges in the restaurant industry [4] - The makelines operate 95% of the time, and during downtime, workers can complete orders, minimizing disruption [5] - The technology tracks ingredients "down to the gram," helping restaurants reduce food costs and waste [6] Market Context - The restaurant industry is facing challenges, with shares of Cava and Chipotle down nearly 50% and 40% year-to-date, respectively [8] - Sweetgreen, a competitor, has seen a nearly 80% decline in shares and sold its robotics unit for $186.4 million earlier this year [9] Future Developments - Hyphen is in discussions with major brands and food service providers to evolve its makeline technology and develop software for food prep scheduling [10] - The company is focusing on high customization and high volume orders, rather than entering the fast food sector for now [11]