[Startup story] FoodFix | Rubik Scale to USA 2024

[Startup story] FoodFix | Rubik Scale to USA 2024

May 2, 2024

First of all, we would like to know who’s behind the keyboard.

I’m Mihai Gavan, but you can also call me Mike. I’m the CEO of FoodFix. I lead the growth of FoodFix and handle most things related to investors and partnerships. As for my background, I have over 15+ years of growing $ 30+ Mil tech companies in EMEA.

Tell us more about your startup. What problem do you solve? Who’s your audience? What motivated you to found it?

Our startup is named FoodFix.Tech. It’s a spin-off from our 2019 food-at-work startup, which Septimiu (my Co-founder and CPO) and I grew from 0 to $60k MRR in 6 months, but had to close due to Covid-19. During the stay-at-home era, we saw millions of new recipe creators on Social Media. It was a real phenomenon.

Today, 5 years later, tens of thousands of creators who started in that timeframe have made it into professional businesses. Now, they have 300k+ fans and are looking to monetize their recipes through cookbooks. However, this industry is slow, outdated, provides zero tech, and charges 85-90% fees. So, because we understand first-hand the power of great recipes from established creators, we want to help build a new infrastructure where premium food knowledge is created and sold, making sure that creators get 70%+ revenue and a new and exciting ecosystem for their fans.

We’re curious to learn about your team. 

Our team also includes:

• Sep (Septimiu Pop), CPO, Leads Product – 13+ years of product/market fit in EMEA for Financial Institutions > $500+ Mil / year.
• Soring Bogriceanu, CTO, Leads Tech
- 13+ years of Enterprise Tech in US and EMEA for Forbes 500 and Fast Growing Startups
• Adrian Cioclei, COO, Leads OPS – 20+ years of Tech Delivery in US and EMEA for Financial Institutions > $500+ Mil / year.

What is the biggest achievement / progress / changes you’ve achieved during our accelerator?

Our biggest achievement during the accelerator was gaining clarity on our strategy and forming key connections. The weekly syncs were truly valuable and we learned a great deal from them. I can’t say that something specific stood out to me, but I can say that after the accelerator we had a different, better way of looking at our startup. This mindset shift is a major gain. Thanks!

How was the USA immersion trip? How did it change your perspective on scaling in the USA?

The trip broadened our perspective on scaling in the USA, emphasizing the importance of market positioning and networking. It was truly a transformative experience in the sense that the USA Startup space is 1.000 times more mature than the Eastern European Startup Space. Especially since our startup is B2B2C and not the conventionally funded B2B type, it was refreshing to meet with investors excited about consumer apps.

What role did mentorship play in your experience, and how did it impact your startup’s growth?

Mentorship played a pivotal role in our growth, particularly sessions with experienced mentors who provided invaluable insights and guidance. Some of the mentors we had became our investors and others helped us better understand our business model and the goals to focus on to grow and be relevant for Western VCs.

How has the experience in the acceleration program influenced your vision for the future of your startup? What are your next steps and goals as you continue to grow and evolve your startup in the USA market and beyond?

The program has significantly influenced our vision, reinforcing our commitment to growth and expansion in the USA market while setting clear goals for the future.

Why would you recommend Rubik Scale to USA to those startup founders who want to expand in the States?

Here are three reasons:

1. The value of mentorship and the sharpening of the pitch (deck and 5-minute session) is 5-star.
2. The people you’ll meet, from mentors, and investors, to partners and other founders, are very driven and have that specific “unicorn” vibe. 
3. The USA trip puts things into perspective: that’s the market where you need to be with a startup with Unicorn ambitions.

Is there anything else you’d like our readers to know?

Join with an open mind and heart. You’ll benefit greatly from the ecosystem, the vibe, the lessons, and the people you meet. A sincere thank you from the FoodFix team to everyone from Rubik Hub. Thank you for your hard work and dedication to helping startups understand and have a better shot at this 0-to-unicorn journey.

We encourage you to support FoodFix and follow its journey on Linkedin, TikTok and Instagram.