Voice AI tech startup Hi Auto has secured $15 million in Series A funding to enhance its AI-driven voice technology for quick-service restaurants (QSRs), bringing its total capital raised to $23 million.
Alongside this funding, Hi Auto has also secured a $4 million credit line to fuel its expansion plans.
Founded in 2019 by Roy Baharav, Eyal Shapira, and the late Zohar Zisapel, Hi Auto is on a mission to automate the drive-thru experience, tackling one of the industry’s biggest pain points. With an impressive order accuracy rate exceeding 96% and a completion rate over 90%, the company aims to ease the burden of rising labour costs, particularly relevant now that California has implemented a $20/hour minimum wage for fast-food workers.
Hi Auto’s client roster features brands like Bojangles, Checkers & Rally’s, Lee’s Famous Recipe Chicken, Burger King New Zealand, and Popeyes UK. The company is also piloting its technology with several major QSR chains both in the U.S. and abroad. With advanced noise-cancellation features and a specialised language model designed to thrive in the chaotic atmosphere of drive-thrus, Hi Auto’s technology significantly reduces errors, even in the face of indecisive customers and distracting background noise.
Helping staff focus on what they do best
To fuel upselling, the AI-driven system intelligently suggests add-ons and premium items based on real-time factors such as inventory levels, time of day, and even weather conditions. This not only elevates the customer experience but also boosts average ticket sizes, demonstrating that AI can be both a cost-saver and a revenue generator.
“We saw earlier attempts at AI-based ordering that never quite made it,” said Roy Baharav, CEO and co-founder of Hi Auto. “But Hi Auto’s focus on real-world conditions—like fragmentation of franchisee menu, employee-AI interface, and guest experience—positions us to solve problems that others stumbled on. Our goal is to become the default conversational AI solution for QSRs around the globe.”
As consumers increasingly demand speed and accuracy, QSR operators are turning to automation to keep up. By streamlining the order-taking process, Hi Auto is helping restaurants reduce operational bottlenecks, allowing staff to focus on what they do best—providing excellent customer service.