As restaurants continue to face job shortages, owners will undoubtedly increasingly seek automated solutions. Between this and the greater focus on food handling during the global pandemic, this is arguably the best time to run a food robot company.

Los Angeles-based Nommi was eye-catching when the oven was hot, and announced a partnership with the restaurant brand C3 (Creating Culinary Communities), which will lead to the launch of up to 1,000 robotic kiosks to global real estate and university campus partners.

The types of foods that can be fully automated are still a relatively short list. Nommi’s focus is that the food bowl—just like pizza—is a relatively unified and independent food delivery system that makes sense for robots. The company's nominal product is essentially a slender kiosk with a built-in touch screen, allowing customers to customize their meals.

The machine can make noodles, cereals and salad bowls in three minutes. The machine can hold up to 330 bowls and lids, and can prepare multiple bowls at once. After completion, it can put up to 21 prepared bowls in the "storage cabinet", which releases food through a QR code. The C3 transaction includes a partnership with Iron Chef's Masaharu Morimoto, which will bring his Sa'Moto brand products to the machine, which will run 24/7.

"From a brand and consumer perspective, Nommi's secret is undoubtedly its unparalleled versatility," President and co-founder Buck Jordan said in a press release. "Partnering with innovative platforms like C3 adds another level of access to many revenue streams and unique customers. Both companies are disrupting the food industry, and our cooperation is just right."

With the assistance of Wavemaker Labs, the incubator behind robotics companies such as Miso and Future Acres, Nommi is working to raise up to $20 million in seed funding.

Update: Change to indicate that Nommi is currently seeking to raise US$20 million.