German foodtech company Circus has acquired Berlin-based culinary robotics startup Aitme. This way, Hamburg-based Circus, which cooks and delivers food to customers from its micro-kitchens, is gaining access to cutting-edge kitchen robotics technology through the acquisition of Aitme, which has brought a cooking robot to market maturity since its establishment in 2019.
“At Circus, we are advancing a vision of the future where technology converges with gastronomy to create unique culinary experiences that cater to the diverse needs of modern consumers. Aitme’s exceptional robotics expertise complements the proprietary infrastructure of our micro kitchen hubs, seamlessly blending software-based technology with artificial intelligence. Together, we are strategically positioned to further expand Circus’ services and accelerate our mission of making high-quality, fresh, and varied food accessible to everyone”, said Nikolas Bullwinkel, CEO and co-founder of Circus.
At the core of Circus’ success lies its proprietary micro-kitchen hub technology, intelligently combining automation and digitization. The recipes for Circus diverse culinary offerings are crafted by artificial intelligence, enabling a wide array of personalized dishes at low production costs and with efficient resource utilization. Since its launch in 2022, Circus has expanded its services to Hamburg, Cologne, Berlin, and Duisburg, securing a total of €18 million in investments.
“Circus and Aitme share a common mission: to provide people with the best food – anytime, anywhere, tailored to their individual preferences,” stated Emanuel Pallua, founder of Aitme. “We are thrilled that Circus will continue to advance our technology in pursuit of this mission.”
Aitme’s fully automated kitchens excel in executing complex preparation tasks with maximum precision and efficiency. Cooking times are reduced while maintaining product quality, resulting in decreased food waste. Historically, Aitme primarily targeted canteens with its robotic kitchen solutions. With Circus’ acquisition of Aitme, the company adds experienced robotics experts to its team and integrates sophisticated cooking robots into its infrastructure. These robots operate efficiently with minimal human intervention, reinforcing the level of automation within Circus’ micro-kitchens.
