CHICAGO: Sizl, a cook-to-order delivery service based in Chicago, aims to change perceptions by delivering meals made with fresh ingredients in about 30 minutes.
The company announced Tuesday that it raised $3.5 million in a seed round at a post-money valuation of $12 million.
Unlike traditional dark kitchens that serve as shared spaces for various restaurants, Sizl operates its own kitchens with a small team of Ukrainian cooks and local culinary talent from Chicago. It also manages its own delivery couriers and offers a mobile app where customers can earn rewards.
The menu features 60 items at a time, ranging from dishes like chicken Kyiv and pierogies to everyday meals such as grilled cheese and spaghetti Bolognese. Sizl has incorporated co-founder Kalinkina’s family recipes, including her grandmother’s borscht and syrniki.
Sizl founders Kalinkina, Alex Kolesnikov (CEO), Nick Delitski and Kyrylo Kupin (CMO) are originally from Ukraine and have previous experience in building a dark kitchen chain. They previously founded Local Kitchen, which Kolesnikov said scaled to $46 million in annual revenue.
The company plans to use the funding to open up to four additional kitchens in Chicago this year, adding to its two existing locations. It is also exploring expansion into Boston, Charlotte and the San Francisco Bay Area.
Sizl said it already has a Series A round planned for later this year or early 2026.