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RestoHost Rebrands as heytruffle, Secures Funding for AI Concierge

After securing new backing from Preface Ventures, the restaurant-focused tech startup formerly known as RestoHost has rebranded as heytruffle. The company aims to distinguish its AI concierge service by prioritizing managed hospitality over self-service automation, focusing on multi-location groups across the United States.

Bio & NewsJuly 29, 2026512 reads0

Unlike many voice AI tools that prioritize rapid, hands-off automation, heytruffle operates as a fully managed service. The firm builds custom AI concierges trained on a specific restaurant's menu, tone, and operational policies rather than utilizing a generic template. To maintain quality control, a dedicated human team reviews call logs weekly, refining the system and ensuring that complex inquiries are routed directly to restaurant staff when necessary.

This model has found traction with high-volume operators such as Rreal Tacos, a 12-location group in Georgia. The service currently manages over 20,000 calls monthly for the chain, effectively capturing demand during peak hours when front-of-house teams are occupied. By handling reservations, catering leads, and large-party bookings, the AI seeks to mitigate the impact of ongoing staffing shortages across the hospitality sector.

Following the new funding, the company is expanding its capabilities to include pickup and delivery order-taking. The platform now integrates with existing point-of-sale systems and OpenTable, allowing restaurants to adopt the technology without adding significant administrative overhead. CEO Lucas Espina emphasizes that the goal is to treat the phone channel with the same level of care as the physical dining room, moving away from the burden of managing yet another standalone software product.

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