Hi Auto raises $15 million Series A to automate drive-thru orders with AI
As labor costs rise, automation is becoming a key focus for fast-food restaurants.
As labor costs continue to rise in the quick-service restaurant (QSR) industry—exacerbated by recent minimum wage increases, such as California’s $20-an-hour rate for fast-food workers—AI-powered automation is beginning to offer a solution. Hi Auto, a startup specializing in voice technology for drive-thru services, has raised $15 million in Series A funding to expand its AI-driven platform. This brings the company’s total capital raised to $23 million and includes a $4 million credit line aimed at supporting its growth.
Full list of Israeli high-tech funding rounds in 2025
Hi Auto’s software-as-a-service (SaaS) platform automates the drive-thru ordering process, utilizing advanced AI voice technology. The system has been shown to achieve over 96% accuracy and a 90% order completion rate. As QSR operators struggle to balance the demands of speed, accuracy, and profitability—especially amid labor shortages—the technology helps address these challenges by offloading the ordering process from human employees, allowing them to focus on tasks like food preparation and customer service.
“Our system offers a solution that can maintain high accuracy and consistency, even during peak times,” said Roy Baharav, CEO and co-founder of Hi Auto. “This allows businesses to better manage their labor force and reduce reliance on human workers for routine tasks.”
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The rapid rise in labor costs and turnover in the QSR sector is prompting many operators to explore automation as a way to reduce costs and increase efficiency. Hi Auto’s AI platform is positioned as a tool to help alleviate some of these pressures, particularly in the drive-thru, where speed and accuracy are crucial to maintaining customer satisfaction and profitability.
The company’s recent funding round, led by Delek Motors, the Zisapel Family, and Vasuki Tech Fund, among others, will be used to expand Hi Auto’s presence in the restaurant sector and further refine its technology.
