Vox AI, a platform specialising in voice AI technology for drive-through and operational automation in quick service restaurants (QSRs), has raised $8.7m in a seed funding round.

The funding was led by venture capital firm Headline, with contributions from True, Simon Capital and returning investor Souschef Ventures.

Headline partner Dominic Wilhelm stated: “Vox AI delivers something the QSR space has never had before: autonomous, intelligent, real-time voice interaction at a global scale. It’s not a feature – it’s a platform shift.

“We are thrilled to partner with the Vox AI team to power the future of drive-through and QSR ordering to not only improve companies’ bottom lines, but also reduce employee turnover and improve customer satisfaction.”

This round brings the total amount raised by Vox AI to $10m, which will be used to support its global growth, including the opening of a new office in San Francisco.

Established in October 2023, Vox AI aims to tackle challenges within the QSR sector, such as labour shortages, high turnover rates, wage pressures and operational complexities.

The platform offers a multilingual voice assistant that enables customers to place orders at drive-throughs and via mobile applications independently.

It also assists staff by providing real-time guidance and alerts based on restaurant systems.

Vox AI's product features include autonomous AI capabilities, drive-through voice ordering, integration with existing technology systems and support for employee tasks.

Vox AI co-founder and CEO Maurice Kroon stated: “Vox AI is pushing voice technology far beyond generic natural language processing.

“We’re not just improving voice technology. We’re building a new industry standard for how guests interact with fast-food chains and QSR brands they love and how restaurant staff run them.

“Our goal is to make voice the de facto interface for every QSR location - without the need to upgrade their current hardware.”