Leawood-based online restaurant platform Menufy acquired by hungry Houston cloud company

October 26, 2021  |  Startland News Staff

Menufy team, 2021

A rapidly scaling Leawood tech company that helped dozens of Kansas City restaurants, as well as eateries across 3,000 other cities, survive the pandemic has sold to a Houston-based cloud software provider for the restaurant industry.

Sharmil Desai, Menufy

Sharmil Desai, Menufy

Menufy’s vast online food ordering platform and network is expected to be incorporated into the HungerRush 360 cloud POS system as part of the undisclosed deal, which was announced Tuesday morning. The move is expected to help tens of thousands of restaurants grow their businesses, expand their capabilities and improve their profit margins, the companies said in a press release.

Click here to read more about how Menufy scaled its operations with a diverse team built in Kansas City.

“HungerRush opens a multitude of doors for the Menufy team and our customers,” said Sharmil Desai, co-founder and CEO of Menufy. “By joining a company with an impressive roster of both technology offerings and restaurant customers, Menufy’s customers now have access to a holistic suite of solutions and deep industry expertise designed to strengthen restaurant operations and improve business outcomes. Together, HungerRush and Menufy will bring restaurateurs seamless mobile and online ordering capabilities, with the goal of ultimately empowering them to grow independently and rapidly.”

Since 2009, Menufy has been helping independently-owned restaurants drive both growth and profitability through transparent pricing, a compelling online website and mobile app ordering experience designed around a restaurant’s brand. Menufy is led by Desai and Susan Escher, CFO and head of strategy.

The company supports more than 12,000 independently owned restaurants and was named one of the Greater Kansas City Chamber of Commerce’ 2021 Top 10 Small Businesses — putting the company in the running for its coveted Mr. K Small Business of the Year Award.

Menufy Ashishh, Desai

Ashishh Desai, Menufy

Menufy’s foundation of adaptability is one of the key reasons the bootstrapped-company thrived in the heaviest days of the pandemic,  co-founder and director of sales Ashishh Desai told Startland News this summer, citing a quick rollout of features that streamlined curbside delivery and contactless pickup services for locally owned restaurants in 3,000 cities nationwide. 

“From the beginning, we’ve always talked to our clients about what they needed and just adjusted the software to make sure we’re meeting the needs of the majority of our customers,” he said.

In addition to having access to HungerRush’s cloud POS system, Menufy’s customers now will have access to additional integrated cloud solutions including AI-driven text ordering, marketing and delivery.

Click here to learn more about HungerRush and its focus on data-driven restaurant management, and machine learning-empowered ordering solutions

“Today’s news to acquire Menufy further builds out our portfolio with the talent and technology capabilities to continue meeting the fast-growing needs of our restaurant customers,” said Perry Turbes, CEO of HungerRush. “The addition of Menufy’s proven online ordering offerings further helps HungerRush’s customers navigate an ever-changing industry landscape. This is a time when restaurants are embracing innovation and digital solutions more than ever. This acquisition expands HungerRush’s market presence and allows us to offer our combined customers one place for a complete all-in-one solution.”

[divide]

This story is possible thanks to support from the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation, a private, nonpartisan foundation that works together with communities in education and entrepreneurship to create uncommon solutions and empower people to shape their futures and be successful.

For more information, visit www.kauffman.org and connect at www.twitter.com/kauffmanfdn and www.facebook.com/kauffmanfdn

startland-tip-jar

TIP JAR

Did you enjoy this post? Show your support by becoming a member or buying us a coffee.

Tagged , , ,
Featured Business
    Featured Founder

      2021 Startups to Watch

        stats here

        Related Posts on Startland News

        Biz class to barista: UMKC student’s mobile matcha cart hand-whisks crowds of thirsty fans

        By Tommy Felts | November 10, 2025

        Editor’s note: The following story was published by KCUR, Kansas City’s NPR member station, and a fellow member of the KC Media Collective. Click here to read the original story or here to sign up for KCUR’s email newsletter. [divide] HerCafe, a matcha business founded by a University of Missouri-Kansas City student and her friend, has found success with its…

        Tim Tebow to entrepreneurs: Embrace the heavy lift if you want to reap life’s real profits

        By Tommy Felts | November 7, 2025

        COLUMBIA, Mo. — Business should be about driving impact, not just scoring another win, said former NFL quarterback Tim Tebow — challenging Midwest entrepreneurs, community builders, and investors to consider outcomes that boost others, not just one’s personal pocketbook. “Probably everybody in this room has been super blessed with skill sets, resources, relationships, opportunities, companies,…

        Here’s how a Prospect renewal project invests in both those who built KC and the city’s future

        By Tommy Felts | November 7, 2025

        Economic development initiatives are measured not just in buildings, but in opportunity, said Melissa Patterson Hazley, lauding the use of the Central City Economic Development (CCED) Sales Tax Program to transform underutilized parcels in Kansas City into modern, energy-efficient housing that support long-term neighborhood vitality. “Projects like Prospect Summit represent the intentional work of making…

        Fusing talent, passion: Serial founder trades his Screamin Cow for offshore talent hiring platform 

        By Tommy Felts | November 6, 2025

        Brad Starnes’ itch to lean into a newly realized pain point at the end of 2024 led to the acquisition of his Screamin Cow Marketing Group and the launch of another passion project, the former UMKC Student Entrepreneur of the Year shared. With the move — which sees Screamin Cow transitioned to Builders of Authority…