Munich Startup: What does your startup do? What problem are you solving?
Theo Guo, Co-Founder: SmartFoodie develops smart mini-canteens on just 1.3 square meters that prepare fresh, hot meals in under two minutes using state-of-the-art steam cooking technology – completely without kitchen or staff.
We solve the problem of lacking, inflexible and often expensive food services for employees, students and guests.
Munich Startup: But that already exists, doesn’t it?
Theo Guo: No – classic smart fridges already exist, but none that offer full meals that are freshly steamed at the push of a button. We combine digitalization, food tech, convenience and gastronomy in a new form.
Late-night hunger leads to startup idea
Munich Startup: What’s your founding story?
Theo Guo: As students, we often faced the same problem late at night after studying: everything was closed, we were hungry – and in the end it was always a chocolate bar or frozen pizza. From this exact pain point, the idea emerged: a full, hot meal – anytime, anywhere.
Munich Startup: What have been your biggest challenges so far?
Theo Guo: The biggest hurdle was really getting started and going “all in”. After that it was mainly organization, communication and typical startup issues: staying focused, developing team processes and at the same time iterating the product at high speed.
SmartFoodie as a synonym for modern food services
Munich Startup: Where do you want to be in one year, where in five years?
Theo Guo: In one year we want to be the first address for smart employee food services in Munich and the surrounding area. In five years we want to achieve this position across Europe – as a synonym for modern, flexible and digital food services.
Munich Startup: How have you experienced Munich as a startup location so far?
Theo Guo: Munich is an excellent location: there’s a strong startup ecosystem here, many funding programs and above all people who want to support innovation. For us it was the perfect place to start.
Munich Startup: Quick exit or long-term vision?
Theo Guo: For us that’s clear: long-term vision. We want to build a sustainable brand that revolutionizes food services in Europe.
