The Spoon

What The Spoon does

The Spoon is a privately held food technology media company founded in 2015 by Michael Wolf and headquartered in the Seattle, Washington area. The company operates a content-first platform built around a daily news website (thespoon.tech), a podcast network distributed through Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and YouTube, and an active social presence across Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, X, and YouTube. Editorial coverage spans the principal food tech verticals: alternative protein, connected kitchen, food waste, robotics, AI and data, restaurant technology, delivery and commerce, and food tech startups, with content organized into recurring categories such as Future Food, Future of Drink, Future of Grocery, and Business of Food.

The Spoon's product surface extends beyond editorial into live programming and education. Flagship events include the Smart Kitchen Summit and the annual Food Tech Conference at CES in Las Vegas, and the company has begun layering in recurring educational programming through the Food AI Co-Lab, a monthly webinar series teaching food industry professionals to apply AI tools such as vibe coding and Claude Code. The company also offers custom consulting services to food industry clients seeking market intelligence and strategic advisory.

The Spoon's revenue model is a blend of media advertising, event ticketing and sponsorships, newsletter subscriptions, and bespoke consulting engagements. The go-to-market motion is community-led: content and events attract an audience of food tech professionals, startup founders, investors, and researchers, which in turn draws sponsors and consulting leads. Recent strategic activity signals international expansion through the Foodtech Cross Bridge Program with Japanese partners and deepening vertical research authority through collaborations such as the ReFED report on AI in food waste management.

Name

The Spoon

Legal name

The Spoon

Website

https://thespoon.tech

Company type

Private

Founded year

2015

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The Spoon is a privately held food technology media company founded in 2015 and based in Seattle, Washington. It publishes daily news, podcasts, and events covering alternative protein, connected kitchen, robotics, and food waste for an audience of food tech professionals, startups, and investors.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Edmonds

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Digital Commerce or Content

Cost components

Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Media Content & Events: The Spoon generates revenue through its media platform by providing food tech news coverage, podcast content, and hosting events including the Food Tech Conference at CES. The company also offers consulting services under 'custom' services.
2. Events & Conference Production: The company produces and hosts food tech events including the Smart Kitchen Summit and Food Tech Conference at CES, generating revenue through event attendance and sponsorships.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

The Spoon is a food technology media company that publishes daily editorial news and analysis across categories such as alternative protein, connected kitchen, food waste, robotics/AI, restaurant tech, and food startups. It supplements its written coverage with a podcast network, recurring events including the Smart Kitchen Summit and the Food Tech Conference at CES, and custom consulting services for food industry companies.

Product overview

The Spoon is a media platform providing daily news and analysis about the food tech revolution. The offering consists of a core content website featuring articles and news coverage, a podcast network with video interviews, event programming including conferences and webinars, newsletter subscriptions, and custom consulting services. The platform covers diverse food tech categories including alternative protein, connected kitchen, food waste, robotics, AI & data, and restaurant technology.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Smart Kitchen Summit: Annual food tech conference and event organized by The Spoon
• Food Tech Conference at CES
• Food AI Co-Lab
• The Spoon Podcast Network

Products and services

• The Spoon Website (Daily News & Analysis) Daily editorial coverage and analysis of the food technology revolution, spanning categories including alternative protein, connected kitchen, food waste, robotics/AI, restaurant tech, delivery and commerce, future food, future of drink, future of grocery, startups, and the business of food. Targeted at food tech professionals, investors, researchers, and enthusiasts.
• The Spoon Podcast Network

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• ReFEDcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 June 2026The Spoon collaborated with ReFED to release a comprehensive report on AI tools for food waste management. The report found that AI adoption remains fragmented with technologies ranging from mature deployments to early-stage concepts, and highlighted measurable results including 20-53% waste reduction in commercial foodservice operations.
• UnlocXcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 February 2026The Spoon collaborates with UnlocX (Tokyo) as one of four operators of the Foodtech Cross Bridge Program, a U.S. market entry support program for food startups. The program offers strategic framework, local networks, and consumer testing support for participating companies.
• KitchenTowncoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 February 2026The Spoon partners with KitchenTown (San Mateo, California) as an operator of the Foodtech Cross Bridge Program. KitchenTown provides the concentrated program facility for the U.S. market entry program, which has a concentrated program scheduled for July 2026.
• LivnesscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 February 2026The Spoon collaborates with Livness (Tokyo) as part of the Foodtech Cross Bridge Program operators, which provides U.S. market entry support including strategic framework and local networks for food startups.

Scale indicators1 record

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Food Tank: Food Tank is a nonprofit food-focused media and event organization covering sustainable agriculture, food tech, and policy. Comparable to The Spoon as a mission-driven food media brand producing editorial content and conferences for the food innovation ecosystem.
• Food Engineering Magazine: Food Engineering covers food processing, manufacturing technology, and automation for industry professionals. Comparable B2B trade publication covering food technology verticals that overlap with The Spoon's robotics, AI, and connected kitchen coverage.
• Restaurant Business: Restaurant Business covers restaurant technology, operations, and trends for the foodservice industry. Overlaps with The Spoon's Restaurant Tech and Connected Kitchen verticals, serving similar B2B audiences with editorial and event content.
• Food Dive: Food Dive publishes daily news on the food industry, including CPG, food tech, and restaurant trends. Comparable online B2B media outlet serving food industry professionals with news, analysis, and event coverage.
• FoodNavigator: FoodNavigator publishes daily news and analysis on the food and beverage industry, including innovation, ingredients, and startups. Directly comparable to The Spoon as a B2B trade publication serving food industry professionals with editorial and event content.
• AgFunder News: AgFunder's editorial arm publishes daily news and analysis on agritech and foodtech investments, startups, and innovation. Closely comparable to The Spoon as a niche B2B media outlet covering food technology with an investor audience and event programming.
• The Packer: The Packer covers the fresh produce supply chain with daily news, analysis, and events for produce industry professionals. Comparable B2B trade media model serving a food industry vertical with editorial, newsletters, and sponsored event programming.

Broad incumbents

• Wired: Wired is a mainstream technology and culture publication that regularly covers kitchen tech, food innovation, and alternative protein. A large incumbent whose food-tech coverage partially overlaps with The Spoon's editorial scope.
• TechCrunch: TechCrunch is a large generalist technology publisher that frequently covers foodtech startups, robotics, and AI in food. A broader incumbent whose coverage overlaps with The Spoon's verticals but does not specialize in food technology as a category.

Regional players

• Green Queen Media: Green Queen is an Asia-based media outlet covering alternative protein, food tech, and sustainable food innovation. Comparable editorial coverage but focused on Hong Kong and broader Asia-Pacific audiences, complementary to The Spoon's North American focus.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/TheSpoonTech
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCiTnsC8tdRB_LnT9pcTxObg
• Facebookfacebook.com/thespoontech
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/thespoon
• Instagraminstagram.com/thespoontech

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about The Spoon