[cafeteria], the Los Angeles-based consumer insights platform that connects brands directly with Generation Z and Alpha—an emerging demographic often called “Generation Next”—announced that it has closed a $3 million growth funding round, valuing the company at $22 million. Marquee Ventures, Listen Ventures, and Thayer Investment Partners led the investment, building on past support from Collaborative Fund, Imaginary Ventures, Bertelsmann, and music industry leader Guy Oseary. The new capital underscores growing industry confidence in [cafeteria]’s unique approach to capturing real-time, authentic feedback from young consumers.
Since January, [cafeteria] has more than doubled its user base and tripled the volume of insights generated, drawing interest from major brands in fashion, beauty, and consumer goods. The platform enables teens to participate in private, branded conversations—called “Tables”—where they are rewarded for sharing honest opinions on products, campaigns, and trends. Brands, meanwhile, gain access to synthesized, editorialized insights through a proprietary dashboard called “Albums,” helping them spot emerging trends, inform influencer strategies, and refine product decisions. For example, a pre-launch celebrity beauty brand reportedly saved $100,000 and six months of R&D after using [cafeteria]’s insights to streamline packaging tooling choices.
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“The way consumers discover information has changed, and young people want to be recognized and rewarded for their opinions,” said Jeff Cantalupo, Founder and Managing Partner at Listen Ventures. “[cafeteria] is building that bridge between brands and the next generation—a group that will define the future of commerce.”
[cafeteria]’s model is unique in its focus on zero-party data; teens opt in to share feedback directly with brands, rather than having their behavior passively tracked. The platform aggregates text and voice insights, which are then analyzed using advanced AI to reveal sentiment, emotion, and key themes in real time. This approach provides brands with a level of granularity and authenticity rarely found in traditional market research.
According to Rishi Malhotra, CEO and co-founder of [cafeteria], the company is “reimagining the relationship between Generation Next and brands by delivering them a platform for work and private insights software for clients. Our text and voice data are compounding, and we are investing in AI capabilities that are truly in-context of the generation”. For investors, the platform’s rapid growth and distinctive focus on real-time, youth-driven insights make it a standout in the competitive landscape of consumer intelligence.
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With the new funding, [cafeteria] plans to expand its AI capabilities, scale its data infrastructure, and deepen offerings for enterprise clients seeking to engage with this influential demographic. The company’s innovative model is already being used by notable brands such as Roller Rabbit, and its biannual Next Gen Spenders Report delivers in-depth insights into youth preferences and behaviors, informing strategic decisions across industries.
As brands increasingly prioritize direct engagement with young consumers, [cafeteria]’s real-time, AI-powered insights platform represents a significant evolution in how companies understand and respond to the next generation of shoppers. Investors and industry leaders see [cafeteria] not just as a tool, but as a potential cultural force shaping the future of brand-consumer relationships.
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