Connect with us

Technology

Cheetah Technologies Leans Into Scaling Their AI-Enabled Commerce Platform Nationwide By Selling Physical Distribution Business to Palo Alto Foods

Published

on

The company will begin rolling out its AI-enabled commerce platform, offering distributors and restaurants tools to enhance purchasing efficiency, analytics, and profitability.

SAN FRANCISCO, June 18, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — Cheetah Technologies, a restaurant and food distribution commerce platform, announced today the sale of their physical distribution business based in Pleasanton, CA, to Paul Jensen, 2nd generation owner of Palo Alto Foods. The company will be focused on bringing the technology that allowed them to scale their distribution business to the entire industry. With its features like digital product catalogs, personalized insights and recommendations, integrated payment processing, routing management, automated inventory tracking through point-of-sale integration and in-app support, the platform drastically increases profitability and efficiency of distributors, while lowering the carbon footprint.

“We built our restaurant application and distribution commerce platform to support our distribution business,” said Kim Spalding, CEO of Cheetah. “We saw firsthand how our platform upleveled our own customer experience and drove unprecedented NPS scores – 58 – in an industry that often averages NPS scores around 10. Over the last decade, the front of house of this industry has been digitized, while the back of house has remained unchanged. The food supply space, which is the largest portion of restaurant back of house, is a $400B opportunity. This is a larger opportunity than restaurant front of house which has produced more than $70B in market cap for disruptive start-ups. We’re going to seize that opportunity.”

Spalding, who had an illustrious career at Google, Starbucks, & McKinsey, joined the company in 2023 and with the support of the board, pivoted to commercializing their technology. She recently closed on an additional $14 million in funding and focused on vertical SaaS for the restaurant supply. “I’m excited to be scaling our AI-enabled distributor platform,” said Spalding. “Our decision to sell our physical distribution business to Paul Jensen was an easy one, as he’s a strong operator and trusted partner. We are now focused on scaling our platform into this exciting market and building expansions that will digitize additional workflows for distributors, restaurants and manufacturers.”

Paul Jensen, CEO of Palo Alto Foods, considered a pioneer in the adoption and celebration of organic products, said, “This is the best of both worlds. I get to continue to do what I have loved my entire career: helping independent restaurants succeed, but now with an even greater platform. With their new focus, Cheetah’s technology won’t just be an irreplaceable asset for my business, but will be an absolute game-changer for the entire foodservice industry.”

Palo Alto Foods is a business Jensen’s father started more than 40 years ago and began as a humble seller of local eggs. Jensen added, “As kids, my brother Eric and I worked side by side with him before eventually taking over the company. I can remember the landscape of Silicon Valley in a very different way. We’ve been fortunate to successfully grow with our customers, such as Google, Pixar, and Stanford Hospital, over the years. We are ecstatic about taking our business to the next level with this deal.”

The last shipment out of the Cheetah warehouse will be its software.

Distributors interested in more information please contact Cheetah Technologies’ Co-Founder Christopher Elliott, chris@gocheetah.com 

About Cheetah
Cheetah launched the first restaurant supply app, providing the simplest, most affordable way for restaurants to get their daily supplies. Cheetah’s technology was developed to solve the complex issues facing foodservice distribution including supply chain management, logistics optimization, data analytics, and purchasing algorithms which enhance efficiency and profitability for every partner in the channel. Proprietary solutions connect multiple supply-side systems with in-house sales software bringing a lean, efficient, and reliable approach to the foodservice ecosystem. This software reduces the time & labor needed to place & process orders while minimizing food waste.

Cheetah is founded and run by technology industry veterans, engineers, data scientists, supply chain and logistics experts, and innovators who have come together to help restaurateurs, distributors, and manufacturers thrive. 

For more information on Cheetah, please contact press@gocheetah.com

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/cheetah-technologies-leans-into-scaling-their-ai-enabled-commerce-platform-nationwide-by-selling-physical-distribution-business-to-palo-alto-foods-302176208.html

SOURCE Cheetah Technologies

Continue Reading
Click to comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Technology

TiTE x IHT 2026: The Definitive Hub for Taiwan’s Hardware Manufacturing Excellence

Published

on

By

TAICHUNG, May 6, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — When sourcing from Taiwan, location is the ultimate strategic advantage. Don’t be misled by smaller, general trade shows held in city centers like Taipei. To truly connect with the source, you must go where the products are born. TiTE x IHT (Oct 20-22, 2026) in Taichung is the undisputed largest and most vital hardware industrial expo on the island. Hosted directly in the heart of Taiwan’s precision manufacturing cluster, this event features 1,000+ booths and 500+ top-tier manufacturers, offering a scale and industrial depth that no other exhibition can replicate.

Why Global Buyers Choose the Taichung Source Over Urban Trade Shows:

The Revolutionary “Exhibition as Factory” Model: Taichung is the global epicenter for hardware, home to 70% of Taiwan’s industry output. Our unique location enables the “30-Minute Sourcing Circle.” This allows you to verify high-end samples on the show floor in the morning and audit world-class production lines by the afternoon. By eliminating the travel gap between the booth and the factory, we reduce traditional procurement cycles from weeks to hours, providing unmatched transparency for R&D, capacity assessment, and quality control.ESG & CBAM Compliance for Western Markets: As the EU’s Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) and global ESG mandates reshape trade, our exhibitors are already ahead of the curve. Discover CBAM-ready solutions and green manufacturing processes specifically designed to meet the strict sustainability requirements of the European and American markets. We provide more than just tools; we provide carbon-footprint-managed resilience for your brand.AI-Driven Smart Manufacturing: Address global labor shortages and rising costs with Taiwan’s latest innovations. The 2026 expo focuses on “AI Empowerment,” showcasing collaborative robotics, automated digital inspection, and data-driven supply chain management. These technologies ensure lead-time stability and high-precision consistency for premium global brand owners.Direct Sourcing & Global Matchmaking: Skip the middlemen and trading agencies. Our “Global Buyer Day” offers exclusive, pre-arranged matchmaking with the actual OEMs/ODMs. This is the primary decision-making platform for major distributors seeking resilient, direct-to-factory partnerships that guarantee the best pricing and priority production slots.

Experience the synergy of smart manufacturing and global trade. Stop at the source—where the world’s hardware is actually built. Secure your competitive edge in the true heart of the industry.

【TiTE x IHT】

Date: October 20-22, 2026Venue: TICEC, Taichung, TaiwanRegister Now: https://accu.ps/g8MZ1SHousing Subsidy: https://forms.gle/34VHVxSrEw7g8GxDAOfficial Website: https://www.hardwareexpotw.com

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/tite-x-iht-2026-the-definitive-hub-for-taiwans-hardware-manufacturing-excellence-302763625.html

SOURCE TiTE x IHT

Continue Reading

Technology

KIST Accelerates U.S. Expansion of Quantum Deep-Tech Startups Through SelectUSA 2026

Published

on

By

SEOUL, South Korea, May 5, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — The Korea Institute of Science and Technology (KIST) President Oh Sang-rok announced that it will participate in the SelectUSA Investment Summit 2026 as part of a Korean delegation, together with quantum technology startups supported by the Ministry of SMEs and Startups under the Deeptech Project (DIPS).

The initiative, supported by South Korea’s Ministry of SMEs and Startups (MSS), is part of the government’s “Deeptech Incubator Project for Startups” (DIPS) initiative, which aims to nurture globally competitive deep-tech ventures.

KIST, which serves as the lead institution for the quantum technology sector under the program, said it will oversee the global commercialization efforts of participating firms. In particular, the “Global Bridge Program,” jointly developed with the U.S. Embassy in Korea in September 2025, is an official program designed to generate tangible overseas expansion outcomes by linking investment attraction with local market entry through diplomatic channels.

Organized by the U.S. Department of Commerce, the SelectUSA Investment Summit is the largest investment promotion event in the US, connecting international startups with venture capital firms, corporate investors and state-level economic development agencies.

It serves as an execution-oriented platform that extends to investment, corporate establishment, site selection, and tax incentives, and is considered a key entry gateway for deep-tech companies, including those in quantum technology.

KIST said participation in the summit is particularly significant for deep-tech sectors such as quantum technology, where access to the US innovation ecosystem is seen as key to growth.

The program is conducted in two stages. From April 30 to May 1, companies took part in a spin-off program hosted by the State of Maryland, which included visits to research institutions and tours of the regional quantum technology ecosystem.

During this period, the delegation also conducted localized activities with the Maryland state government and its economic development agencies, focusing on investment attraction, corporate collaboration, and joint R&D. In addition, on May 5, the delegation held discussions with U.S. Department of Commerce Deputy Secretary William Kimmitt on potential areas of cooperation.

The delegation will also meet officials from Fairfax County Government to explore collaboration and investment opportunities.

The main summit, currently ongoing from May 3 to May 6, features exhibitions, pitching sessions and meetings with US state representatives, with participating firms expected to engage in discussions on investment and market entry.

The delegation is structured to encompass the entire quantum industry rather than a single technology domain.

The Korean delegation comprises five startups, alongside Kyung Hee University Department of Future Science & Technology Commercialization Policy and Entrepreneurship, with approximately 20 participants forming an integrated ecosystem that combines research institutes, academia, and startups, enabling a full-cycle support system from technology validation to commercialization and global expansion.

One of the firms, OptiQ-Labs, was selected for an official pitching session on May 4, where it presented its laser-based optical modules designed for ion-trap quantum computing systems.

This highly competitive program selects only around 100 companies from more than 20,000 applicants worldwide. If selected as the winner of the pitching session, the company will receive follow-up meetings with U.S. state governments and economic development agencies, access to global investor networks, support for local entity establishment, and connections to site selection and tax incentive programs.

Other participating companies include QUAD, which develops single-photon detection technology; SLEEX, focused on underwater sensing; Elixir (StatUp AI), which works on quantum-classical hybrid algorithms for healthcare; and SQK (QMEDIC), specializing in physics-based imaging solutions.

KIST Project Director, Kang Sunjoon, said, “This program represents a critical milestone for Korean quantum startups to directly connect with global investors and industry ecosystems. Via the DIPS program, we are actively promoting the global commercialization of quantum technologies.”

Through its participation in SelectUSA, KIST has established a package-type global expansion model that integrates technology validation, investment attraction, and U.S. market entry.

The summit serves as a turning point for South Korea’s quantum sector, enabling startups to move into the next phase of validation, investment, and overseas expansion.

For more information, visit https://eng.kist.re.kr/.

About KIST 

KIST was established in 1966 as the first government-funded research institute in South Korea. KIST now strives to solve national and social challenges and secure growth engines through leading and innovative research.

About Participating Quantum Startups

QUAD, led by Chief Executive Officer, Oh Byung-doo, develops quantum sensing technologies based on superconducting nanowire single-photon detectors (SNSPDs), offering high sensitivity and precision with applications spanning quantum communication, quantum computing, semiconductor inspection, and defense.

SLEEX is developing an advanced perception technology that combines quantum LiDAR and electric field sensing to overcome limitations of existing underwater sensors, particularly by eliminating blind zones within the 0–2 meter range, with strong potential in autonomous navigation, maritime security, and defense, with Lee Jeho at the helm as Chief Executive Officer.  (https://www.thesleex.com)

Elixir, headed by Chief Executive Officer Jang Jung-kwon, develops a drug discovery and biomarker analysis platform based on quantum-classical hybrid algorithms, targeting the precision medicine market through the integration of bioinformatics and quantum machine learning. (statupai.com)

SQK develops medical imaging AI based on quantum-physics constraints, addressing the hallucination issues of conventional AI by ensuring physical consistency in CT and MRI reconstruction. Under the leadership of Chief Executive Officer Kim Yoon-hak, SQK is improving reliability and reducing the need for re-scans in clinical settings. (www.sqkcloud.com)

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/kist-accelerates-us-expansion-of-quantum-deep-tech-startups-through-selectusa-2026-302763636.html

SOURCE The Korea Institute of Science and Technology (KIST)

Continue Reading

Technology

Former Visa Asia Pacific Executive David Tay Joins YeahPay as Global Vice President

Published

on

By

SINGAPORE, May 6, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — YeahPay, the international payment brand under YEAHKA (9923.HK), has appointed David Tay, a former senior executive at Visa Asia Pacific, as Global Vice President, tasking him with overseeing the strategic direction and product ecosystem development of YEAHKA’s overseas payment business. The appointment comes as global digital trade enters a new phase defined by ecosystem integration, with payment infrastructure undergoing a generational shift in acceleration.

David Tay, a Singaporean national, is a rising leader in the payments industry. During his career at Visa, David played a key role in driving business growth across multiple Southeast Asian markets, demonstrating early promise in commercial insight and innovation. He subsequently moved into Visa’s Innovation division, where he rose to serve as Head of Innovation, leading Visa Pacific’s product innovation and new business.

In that capacity, David led the commercialization of cutting-edge payment paradigms including Visa Flex Credential and Pay by Palm. He was also involved in the evaluation and governance of strategic partners across the region, accumulating deep expertise in collaborating with banks, fintechs, and large-scale enterprise merchants.

David’s track record spans the full go-to-market lifecycle, from concept to pilot to scale, as well as deep capabilities in cross-institutional partnerships and ecosystem development. His appointment comes at an inflection point for YEAHKA’s international expansion. According to YEAHKA’s 2025 annual report, its overseas business delivered full-year Gross Payment Volume (GPV) surpassing RMB 5 billion, representing a 323.3% year-on-year surge from RMB 1.1 billion in 2024.

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/apac/news-releases/former-visa-asia-pacific-executive-david-tay-joins-yeahpay-as-global-vice-president-302763652.html

SOURCE Yeahka

Continue Reading

Trending