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Foodtech startup founded by Oxford graduates secures £250k investment

Cookoo, the foodtech startup founded by two Oxford University graduates, has announced that it has secured £250k investment.

The London-based food delivery business was founded in January this year by Joanne Thompson and Rachel Swidenbank and specialises in delivering healthy, home-cooked food directly to people’s homes and workplaces.

Both entrepreneurs are Oxford University graduates and previously worked together at management consultancy firm Bain & Company.

Currently focused within the Central London area, Cookoo has brought together a network of independent chefs who design and cook different meals every day, providing a range of dishes that consumers can select and have delivered chilled to their door.

Meals are labelled with full nutritional information, ready to be cooked in a microwave or oven, with any surplus food donated to local homeless shelters to eliminate waste.

According to co-founder Rachel, the startup’s focus is on delivering healthy, high-quality meals for people who want a nutritious meal but do not have the time to plan, shop or cook.

She said: “Our focus is on discovery and quality. We make it simpler to eat fresh, home-cooked, food, made by real people, from real ingredients.

“Our cooks each have their own unique style and expertise so Cookoo customers can experience new tastes and choose from affordable, ever-changing dishes that they will love.”

Following this new chunk of investment, Joanne and Rachel are planning to add more cooks to their platform to help expand the range of meals offered on the platform, and expand awareness of the nascent brand which is still only seven months old.

The food delivery market has emerged as a potential boom sector with startups such as Chinese delivery service ZingZing attempting to capitalise on the increasing demand for healthy, nutritious meals amongst time-poor young professionals.