Unlike competitors pushing for fully autonomous voice systems, heytruffle employs a managed service approach. The company trains custom AI concierges for individual restaurants, backed by a human team that reviews call logs weekly to refine performance. This setup handles reservations, catering inquiries, and event planning, while routing complex requests to on-site staff. For Rreal Tacos, a 12-location group in Georgia, the system manages over 20,000 calls monthly, successfully securing seating for more than 14,000 guests during peak hours.
heytruffle Secures Funding to Scale Human-Backed AI Concierge
As restaurant operators grapple with persistent labor shortages and missed calls, Fort Lauderdale-based heytruffle has raised fresh capital from Preface Ventures. The startup, formerly known as RestoHost, is betting that a hybrid model combining artificial intelligence with human oversight will capture the growing market for automated guest services.
Founder and CEO Lucas Espina argues that the industry has reached a saturation point for raw software tools. Instead, he positions the platform as a way to reclaim time for floor staff rather than replacing them. With the new investment, the company is rolling out enhanced features, including direct order-taking for pickup and delivery, alongside a new integration with OpenTable. These tools allow the concierge to operate within existing restaurant infrastructure, such as point-of-sale systems, while supporting communications in five languages including Spanish, Italian, and German.
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