DeliverZero
DeliverZero, founded around 2019 in New York, operated a B2B reusable food container system for restaurants and food-delivery businesses, eliminating single-use takeout packaging. Following a 2024 acquisition by Minnow Technologies, the company paused operations to rebuild a more scalable reuse service.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2019
- HeadquartersNew York, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What DeliverZero does
DeliverZero was a New York-based B2B sustainability company that operated a reusable food container system for restaurants and food-delivery businesses. Founded around 2019 as a Delaware corporation, the company offered returnable, reusable takeout containers that consumers could return for cleaning and reuse, positioning itself as a direct substitute for single-use packaging in the takeout and delivery channel. Its value proposition emphasized convenience parity with disposable containers, targeting restaurants responding to environmental concerns and consumer demand for sustainable options.
The company's core product was a reusable packaging system that combined consumer-facing return logistics with restaurant-side operational integration. Operating geographies were limited to New York. Revenue mechanics, pricing structure, and unit economics are not publicly disclosed; the company was venture-backed and funded primarily through SEC Rule 506(b) exempt offerings, with approximately $3.27 million sold under a $4.29M July 2023 Form D filing and an additional $1M offering filed in December 2023. Earned media was the principal go-to-market channel, with coverage in The New York Times, Forbes, CNBC, Fast Company, the Wall Street Journal, ABC News, Goop, and the World Economic Forum's Circular Industry Solutions 2024 report, and the company was named to Fast Company's Most Innovative Companies list in 2024.
In 2024, DeliverZero was acquired by Minnow Technologies, Inc. and the company temporarily paused operations as it works with Minnow to develop a new, more scalable version of the reuse service. Following the acquisition, DeliverZero operates as part of Minnow's portfolio of scalable reuse solutions, with its brand and customer-facing identity retained under the parent.
DeliverZero firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- DeliverZero
- Legal name
- DeliverZero, Inc.
- Website
- https://deliverzero.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2019
- Operating status
- Acquired
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- DeliverZero, founded around 2019 in New York, operated a B2B reusable food container system for restaurants and food-delivery businesses, eliminating single-use takeout packaging. Following a 2024 acquisition by Minnow Technologies, the company paused operations to rebuild a more scalable reuse service.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
DeliverZero industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Reusable Food Packaging Services
- NAICS
- Packaging and Labeling Services (56191), Waste Collection (56211)
- SIC
- Refuse Systems (4953), Sanitary Services (4950)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Reusable & Refill Packaging Systems (Returnable Packaging, Refill-at-Home/In-Store) (IMALAMAE)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Reusable Packaging & Refill Systems (Returnable Transport Items, Deposit/DRS Ops) (EUAIANAE), Packaging Recovery & Closed-Loop Programs (Take-Back, Deposit-Return, EPR Support) (IMALAMAF), Foodservice Packaging & Takeout Containers Wholesale (AFAIALAE), Foodservice/To-Go Packaging (Cups, Clamshells, Cutlery) (IMALAHAM)
Keywords
Where DeliverZero is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- New York
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
DeliverZero business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Operations, Supply Chain, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Marketing channels1 record
DeliverZero product offering
Product offeringCore offering
DeliverZero operated a reusable packaging system for restaurants and food delivery services, supplying returnable containers that customers received with takeout orders and returned for cleaning and reuse. The service was offered to restaurants as a sustainable alternative to single-use containers, eliminating disposable packaging waste from takeout operations. Following the 2024 acquisition by Minnow Technologies, the company is developing an improved, more scalable version of the reuse experience.
Product overview
DeliverZero offers a reusable packaging system for restaurants and food delivery services. For five years, the company operated a consumer-facing reusable container service where customers could order takeout in returnable containers and return them for cleaning and reuse. The company has since partnered with Minnow Technologies, becoming part of Minnow Technologies, Inc., and is currently developing a new version of the DeliverZero solution aimed at creating a more scalable reuse experience.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- DeliverZero Reusable Packaging System A reusable container and packaging system for takeout food delivery that allows consumers to receive meals in returnable containers and return them for cleaning and reuse, eliminating single-use packaging waste. Offered to restaurants and food service businesses as a turnkey sustainable alternative to disposable takeout packaging.
Companies that use DeliverZero
Customer profileSegments1 record
Ideal customer profiles1 record
DeliverZero technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
DeliverZero partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
One partnership is on record.
- Minnow TechnologiescoreDeliverZero has been acquired by Minnow Technologies, Inc. The companies are working together to create the next version of DeliverZero, combining DeliverZero's five years of reuse experience with Minnow's best-in-class technology to develop a better, smoother, more scalable reuse experience.
Scale indicators3 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights4 records
DeliverZero competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Dispatch Goods: Operates a returnable/reusable container network for restaurant takeout and delivery, with a very similar B2B foodservice model to DeliverZero; competes head-to-head for the same restaurant customers in overlapping US metros.
- Friendlier: Provides reusable takeout containers and a return/reuse system to restaurants and food-service operators; comparable in offering, customer segment, and reuse-vs-single-use value proposition to DeliverZero.
- RePlated: Reusable food container service for restaurants offering returnable takeout packaging; overlaps directly with DeliverZero on foodservice customers, reusable container format, and reverse-logistics operating model.
- Algramo: Operates refill and reusable packaging systems in retail and foodservice, including reusable containers for restaurants; serves the same reusable-packaging wedge of the market and pursues similar zero-waste outcomes as DeliverZero.
- Muuse: Smart reusable cup and container system used by cafés, restaurants, and foodservice operators for takeaway; same reusable-packaging-for-foodservice category as DeliverZero, with shared reverse-logistics challenges.
Broad incumbents
- Loop (by TerraCycle): TerraCycle's Loop platform enables reusable/returnable packaging across consumer goods and foodservice; offers comparable reusable-container infrastructure but at much broader retail/CPG scale than DeliverZero's restaurant focus.
- Minnow Technologies: Acquired DeliverZero and is integrating it into a broader reuse-tech platform serving restaurants; overlapping product, customer base, and mission make Minnow the closest broader incumbent and now strategic parent.
Emerging players
- Repurpose (reusable takeout company): Reusable food container and cup programs targeting foodservice operators and event venues; intersects with DeliverZero's reusable-foodservice-container niche while expanding into adjacent event/catering use cases.
- Susty Party: Provides reusable dinnerware, containers, and cups for foodservice, events, and corporate clients; shares DeliverZero's reusable-packaging mission and foodservice customer base but emphasizes events and venues.
Regional players
- Greenstop (CupZero): Reusable cup and container return network operating in select US markets; comparable reusable packaging-as-a-service offering for foodservice, but with a narrower regional footprint than DeliverZero's intended post-relaunch ambitions.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat3 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
DeliverZero social profiles
Digital presenceDeliverZero financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
DeliverZero leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles2 records
DeliverZero funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds2 records
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
DeliverZero M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about DeliverZero
What does DeliverZero do?
DeliverZero operated a reusable packaging system for restaurants and food delivery services, supplying returnable containers that customers received with takeout orders and returned for cleaning and reuse. The service was offered to restaurants as a sustainable alternative to single-use containers, eliminating disposable packaging waste from takeout operations. Following the 2024 acquisition by Minnow Technologies, the company is developing an improved, more scalable version of the reuse experience.
Is DeliverZero a public or private company?
DeliverZero is a private company. It is classified as corporate owned and is currently acquired.
When was DeliverZero founded?
DeliverZero was founded in 2019. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is DeliverZero based?
DeliverZero is headquartered in New York, United States, in the North America region.
Who are DeliverZero's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Dispatch Goods, Friendlier, RePlated, Algramo and Muuse. Broad incumbents are Loop (by TerraCycle) and Minnow Technologies. Emerging players are Repurpose (reusable takeout company) and Susty Party. Greenstop (CupZero) is listed as a regional player.
Does DeliverZero have an API?
No public API is recorded for DeliverZero.
What industry is DeliverZero in?
DeliverZero's product category is Reusable Food Packaging Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is IMALAMAE, Reusable & Refill Packaging Systems (Returnable Packaging, Refill-at-Home/In-Store), with a secondary code of EUAIANAE, Reusable Packaging & Refill Systems (Returnable Transport Items, Deposit/DRS Ops). Its NAICS code is 56191 and its SIC code is 4953.