DBK Studio
DBK Studio is a Chicago-based innovation studio, subsidiary of Levy Restaurants, that sources, tests, and scales emerging venue technologies in mobile ordering, self-service, inventory control, and workforce training for sports, entertainment, and hospitality operators.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1978
- HeadquartersChicago, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What DBK Studio does
DBK Studio is a Chicago-based innovation studio that sources, tests, and scales emerging technologies for sports, entertainment, and hospitality venues. The company's stated purpose is to deliver frictionless experiences to both guests and venue workforce, focusing on operational technology areas including mobile ordering, self-service solutions, inventory control, and team member training. Rather than selling its own product, DBK Studio functions as a vetting, piloting, and deployment coordinator for third-party venue technologies introduced by startups and emerging technology companies.
The firm operates as a subsidiary of Levy Restaurants, providing it privileged distribution into an established network of sports, entertainment, and hospitality venues. Its six-person Core Studio Team is structured around five functional areas (experience design, portfolio operations, frictionless deployment, portfolio management, and frictionless strategy) and is augmented by an advisory network that includes Levy leadership, the CEO of 1871 (a Chicago technology hub), and the CEO of Compass Digital Labs. The studio identifies venues best suited to deploy sourced technologies, runs pilots, and monitors technology-partner performance against financial and operational outcomes.
The revenue model is described as managed-services-style technology partnership and deployment services, but pricing is not publicly disclosed. No revenue figures, named customers, funding history, or contract values are available in the input. The offering is B2B and enterprise-oriented, sold through direct partnerships with venue operators and shaped by referrals from Levy's commercial relationships and the advisory network. The brand traces its heritage to D.B. Kaplan's Delicatessen, Levy's original restaurant experience founded in 1978.
DBK Studio firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- DBK Studio
- Legal name
- DBK Studio
- Website
- https://dbkstudio.co
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1978
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- DBK Studio is a Chicago-based innovation studio, subsidiary of Levy Restaurants, that sources, tests, and scales emerging venue technologies in mobile ordering, self-service, inventory control, and workforce training for sports, entertainment, and hospitality operators.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
DBK Studio industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Hospitality Venue Technology Services
- NAICS
- Promoters of Performing Arts, Sports, and Similar Events with Facilities (71131), Office Administrative Services (5611)
- SIC
- Services-Facilities Support Management Services (8744)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Party Venue Sourcing & Booking Services (HSACACAL)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Studio Operations, Scheduling & Stage Management (MPADAIAH), Studio Campus / Production Facility Operators (MPADAIAC)
Keywords
Where DBK Studio is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Chicago
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
DBK Studio business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Technology Partnership and Deployment Services: DBK Studio operates as an innovation studio that partners with startups and emerging technology companies to evaluate and pilot solutions at sports, entertainment, and hospitality venues. Revenue appears to be generated through technology deployment partnerships with venue operators, though specific revenue mechanics are not publicly disclosed.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels3 records
DBK Studio product offering
Product offeringCore offering
DBK Studio is an innovation studio that partners with startups and emerging technology companies to evaluate and pilot frictionless venue technologies—including mobile ordering, self-service solutions, inventory control, and team member training systems—and then scales these solutions across sports, entertainment, and hospitality venue partners. The firm identifies venues best suited for each technology, runs pilots, monitors partner performance, builds operational blueprints for at-scale rollout, and measures results through analysts. It functions as a vetting, piloting, and deployment intermediary rather than a software product vendor.
Product overview
DBK Studio operates as an innovation studio that sources, tests, and scales emerging technologies for sports, entertainment, and hospitality venues. Rather than offering a single unified product or modular platform, DBK Studio functions as an evaluator and pilot coordinator—partnering with start-ups and emerging technology companies to assess solutions across key operational areas including mobile ordering, self-service, inventory control, and team member training. The company's offering is not a technology product itself but rather a vetting, piloting, and deployment service for third-party venue technologies, with a focus on delivering frictionless experiences for both venue guests and workforce. The company traces its origins to D.B. Kaplan's Delicatessen founded in 1978 and operates under the Levy Restaurants umbrella.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Technology Evaluation and Piloting Service
- Frictionless Deployment and Operational Blueprinting
Companies that use DBK Studio
Customer profileSegments3 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
DBK Studio technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature1 record
DBK Studio partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Levy RestaurantscoreDBK Studio is a subsidiary of Levy Restaurants. The studio was created to continue the company's innovation heritage, building on Levy's experience in hospitality and sports/entertainment venues. Levy provides the venue network and operational expertise, while DBK Studio evaluates and pilots emerging technologies.
- Startup and Emerging Technology CompaniescoreDBK Studio sources new technologies from startups and emerging technology companies, evaluating and piloting their solutions for deployment at sports, entertainment, and hospitality venues. Technologies include mobile ordering, self-service solutions, inventory control, and team member training systems.
- Venue Partners (Sports, Entertainment, Hospitality)coreDBK Studio works with venue partners across sports, entertainment, and hospitality sectors to deploy evaluated technologies at scale. These venues benefit from access to innovation and technology maturation without direct investment risk.
- 1871 (via Betsy Ziegler, CEO)minorBetsy Ziegler, Chief Executive Officer of 1871 (Chicago's technology hub and incubator), serves on the DBK Studio Advisory Network, providing strategic guidance on technology innovation and startup ecosystems.
- Compass Digital Labs (via Jugveer Randhawa, CEO)minorJugveer Randhawa, Chief Executive Officer of Compass Digital Labs, serves on the DBK Studio Advisory Network, contributing expertise in digital innovation and technology commercialization.
Scale indicators1 record
Recent moves5 records
Expansion highlights4 records
DBK Studio competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Venuetize: A fan engagement and mobile experience platform purpose-built for sports and entertainment venues. Comparable to DBK because it deploys integrated guest-experience technology (mobile ordering, self-service, fan engagement) inside the same sports/entertainment venue customer base.
- VenueNext: A venue technology platform that unifies mobile ordering, in-seat delivery, ticketing, and payments for stadiums and arenas. Comparable to DBK because it delivers frictionless guest-experience technology into the same sports and live-event venue market.
- Bypass Mobile: A point-of-sale and mobile commerce platform built specifically for sports, entertainment, and hospitality venues. Comparable to DBK because it operates in the same mobile-ordering and self-service technology stack DBK sources and pilots for venue partners.
- Centerline Digital: A digital experience agency that designs and builds technology experiences for sports, entertainment, and hospitality brands. Comparable to DBK Studio because it sits in the same intersection of venue technology, guest experience design, and live-event clients.
- Agilence: A data analytics platform focused on retail, restaurant, and venue operators, including hospitality environments. Comparable to DBK because it helps venue operators measure outcomes from operational and guest-experience technology deployments.
- Satisfi Labs: A conversational AI platform for venues and live-event destinations including sports, entertainment, and hospitality. Comparable to DBK because it deploys emerging technology (AI assistants) into the same sports/entertainment/hospitality venue customer set to improve guest and workforce experience.
- Appetize Technologies: A enterprise point-of-sale and food-service platform used across sports stadiums, entertainment venues, and hospitality operators. Comparable to DBK because it addresses the same inventory, ordering, and workforce workflows DBK targets inside live-event venues.
Broad incumbents
- Diversified (DTI): A large AV and technology integration firm serving corporate, sports, entertainment, and hospitality venues. Comparable to DBK because it deploys venue technology at scale across the same customer base, though as part of a much broader technology integration portfolio rather than a niche innovation studio.
Emerging players
- PopID: A biometric identification and payments platform deployed at sports stadiums, airports, and hospitality venues. Comparable to DBK because it is exactly the type of emerging guest-experience technology DBK evaluates and pilots for live-event venue operators.
- Mashgin: A computer-vision self-checkout platform deployed in sports stadiums, hospitals, and corporate cafeterias. Comparable to DBK because it represents the type of frictionless, guest-facing venue technology DBK sources, pilots, and scales through its venue partners.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat3 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
DBK Studio social profiles
Digital presenceDBK Studio financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
DBK Studio leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles6 records
DBK Studio funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
DBK Studio 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 DBK Studio
What does DBK Studio do?
DBK Studio is an innovation studio that partners with startups and emerging technology companies to evaluate and pilot frictionless venue technologies—including mobile ordering, self-service solutions, inventory control, and team member training systems—and then scales these solutions across sports, entertainment, and hospitality venue partners. The firm identifies venues best suited for each technology, runs pilots, monitors partner performance, builds operational blueprints for at-scale rollout, and measures results through analysts. It functions as a vetting, piloting, and deployment intermediary rather than a software product vendor.
Is DBK Studio a public or private company?
DBK Studio is a private company. It is classified as corporate owned and is currently operating.
When was DBK Studio founded?
DBK Studio was founded in 1978. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is DBK Studio based?
DBK Studio is headquartered in Chicago, United States, in the North America region.
How does DBK Studio make money?
One revenue line is on record: technology Partnership and Deployment Services.
Who are DBK Studio's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Venuetize, VenueNext, Bypass Mobile, Centerline Digital, Agilence, Satisfi Labs and Appetize Technologies. Diversified (DTI) is listed as a broad incumbent. Emerging players are PopID and Mashgin.
Does DBK Studio have an API?
No public API is recorded for DBK Studio.
What industry is DBK Studio in?
DBK Studio's product category is Hospitality Venue Technology Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is HSACACAL, Party Venue Sourcing & Booking Services, with a secondary code of MPADAIAH, Studio Operations, Scheduling & Stage Management. Its NAICS code is 71131 and its SIC code is 8744.