Karakuri Note
Defunct4 known investors
London robotics startup that built automated kiosks and robotic arms preparing and serving food for the QSR industry; shut down in 2023.
Also known as Karakuri · Karakuri Ltd
Founders & leadership
Investors · 4
Also in the syndicate · 3
Company profile
researched Aug 2026Karakuri was a London-based robotics company that developed automated food preparation and serving systems for the quick-service restaurant (QSR) industry. Its products included a robotic food kiosk that assembled cold and hot ingredients into prepared meals, a robotic arm that served personalised sushi dishes, and an automated chip fryer.
The company operated for roughly five years, developing and deploying robotics for QSR operators before ceasing operations in 2023. Founder Barney Wragg cited the pandemic, the failure of the company's bank, and an inability to secure the funding required to reach the next stage of growth as the reasons for the shutdown.
Business model
Karakuri developed and deployed robotic food preparation and service equipment for restaurant and QSR operators, working with chains through trials and deployments of its systems.
Traction
Karakuri completed a trial with restaurant chain Nando's for its automated chip fryer and employed around 30 staff at the time of its closure.
Latest developments
In June 2023 Karakuri announced it was shutting down and entering administration. On 28 July 2023 a pre-packaged sale of some assets — three prototypes and intellectual property rights — to US foodservice equipment maker Henny Penny was agreed for £350,000, with administrators expected to continue selling remaining assets to recover value for creditors.
▸Full profile — market position, technology, go-to-market, geography, history, risks & controversies
Market position
Karakuri was one of a group of first-generation food robotics startups, alongside companies such as Creator and Picnic, that faced long development cycles and capital-intensive operations; several, including Karakuri, ceased operating in 2023.
Technology
Robotic systems for food assembly and service, including a kiosk that combined cold and hot ingredients into prepared meals, a robotic arm that served personalised sushi dishes, and an automated chip fryer.
Go-to-market
Quick-service restaurant chains and foodservice operators, including restaurant chain Nando's, which trialled Karakuri's automated chip fryer.
Geography
Headquartered in London, United Kingdom.
History
Karakuri operated for approximately five years developing robotics for the QSR industry, raising £13.5m from investors including Ocado Ventures, Founders Factory, First Minute Capital and the UK government's Future Fund. It completed a trial of its automated chip fryer with restaurant chain Nando's and was positioned for expansion in 2023, with founder Barney Wragg describing 2023 as a 'year of maturity' for the company and for restaurant robotics generally. The company ran out of cash, announced in June 2023 that it would enter administration and shut down with 30 job losses, and in July 2023 sold three prototypes and intellectual property rights to US foodservice equipment company Henny Penny for £350,000 in a pre-pack sale arranged by joint administrator RSM UK Restructuring Advisory.
Risks & controversies
The company was unable to raise the additional external funding needed to reach profitability, a situation compounded by the pandemic and by the failure of its bank. It entered administration in June 2023, cut 30 jobs, and its assets were sold off to repay creditors. RSM partner Damian Webb stated that the economic environment undermined efforts to secure funding; the collapse coincided with a 57% year-on-year decline in UK tech investment in the first half of 2023.
Compiled by commissioned research from 5 cited public sources — announcements, filings, and press listed under research sources below.
Key figures
latest reportedCompany-reported or press-reported figures, each dated to when it was claimed — not independently audited.
Timeline · 11
launches, deals, and filingsA pre-packaged sale of some Karakuri assets — three prototypes and intellectual property rights — to US foodservice equipment company Henny Penny was agreed for £350,000. Administrators were expected to continue selling remaining assets to repay creditors.
A pre-packaged sale of a portion of Karakuri's assets — three prototypes and intellectual property rights — to US foodservice equipment company Henny Penny was agreed on 28 July 2023 for £350,000, with administrators expected to continue selling remaining assets.
Founder Barney Wragg announced in a LinkedIn post that Karakuri was ending operations after five years developing and deploying robotics for the QSR industry, citing the pandemic, its bank going bust and an inability to secure further funding.
Karakuri announced it would enter administration, saying a rescue deal was unlikely; 30 staff lost their jobs. RSM UK Restructuring Advisory acted as joint administrator.
Founder and CEO Barney Wragg announced in June 2023 that Karakuri was ending operations after failing to secure funding, citing the pandemic, the failure of its bank and the fundraising environment. The company said a rescue deal was unlikely; 30 staff lost their jobs. RSM UK Restructuring Advisory acted as joint administrator.
Karakuri completed a trial with restaurant chain Nando's for its automated chip fryer.
Karakuri completed a trial with restaurant chain Nando's for its automated chip fryer and had been set for expansion in 2023 before running out of cash.
Karakuri announced an $8.4m (£6.3m) investment led by firstminute capital with Hoxton Ventures, Taylor Brothers, Ocado Group and the UK government-backed Future Fund, bringing total funding closed to £13.5m.
$8.4M source ↗
Karakuri revealed the DK-One, its first pre-production machine, an automated canteen robot creating hot and cold meals with app-configured portions and up to 18 temperature-controlled ingredients per installation.
Ocado led a $9m (£7m) round, investing $6.2m (£4.75m) for an 18% stake and a board seat, with a condition allowing it to acquire more shares if pre-agreed adoption targets for Karakuri's technology were met. Hoxton Ventures, firstminute capital and Taylor Brothers also participated.
$9M source ↗
In April 2018 the Founders Factory venture studio invested in Karakuri and Brent Hoberman joined the board as chairman; he is also listed as a co-founder.
Dated company events from announcements, filings, and press; legal rows summarize public dockets and regulator releases.
▸Research sources · 5
primary sources listed
- Karakuri Joins The Growing List of Food Robot Startups That Have Shut Downthespoon.tech · web
- Food robotics startup Karakuri unveils automated canteen, plus $8.4M investment led by firstminute | TechCrunchtechcrunch.com · web
5 public sources were cited for this profile; the first-party ones are listed here.
Frequently asked questions
- What does Karakuri Note do?
- London robotics startup that built automated kiosks and robotic arms preparing and serving food for the QSR industry; shut down in 2023.
- Who founded Karakuri Note?
- Karakuri Note was founded by Barney Wragg.
- Who are Karakuri Note's investors?
- Karakuri Note's investors include Hoxton Ventures.