When robot meets food: How Jiishu Bansal is creating memorable dining experiences

Adgully has been turning the spotlight on the entrepreneurs who fought against all odds to bring their dreams to fruition in our special series – START-UP STARS. We at Adgully wholeheartedly support the ‘Vocal for Local’ movement and have been featuring numerous local/ homegrown businesses, brands, and Apps in the count.

Mie.Roboluscious is India’s first talking Robo family restro, where food is served by robots. The investment and funding for Mie.Roboluscious was self-owned, which amounted around Rs 1-1.25 crore, to make it a whole running restaurant from scratch. The goal is to enhance the fine dine experience.

In conversation with Adgully, Jiishu Bansal, Founder, Mie.Roboluscious, speaks at length about using robots in the restaurant business, creating a unique and memorable dining experience, expansion plans, and more.

What inspired the founding of your start-up, and what problem did you set out to solve?

Observing a decline in dining enthusiasm, we conceived the idea for Mie.Roboluscious as a means to provide a unique and memorable dining experience. Our inspiration came from the growing trend of automated kitchens in countries like Singapore and Japan, and we decided to introduce the concept to India. Our primary goal in launching this restaurant was to bring joy to people, particularly children, by creating delightful and unforgettable dining moments.

Could you provide an overview of your service and its unique features or benefits?

This restaurant is operated by the amicable and highly effective robotic duo, Mishu and Mishi, specially programmed to deliver exceptional service to patrons. These robots are equipped with advanced Alexa-like capabilities, enabling them to handle a range of duties, including order-taking, food service, customer interaction, and even guest entertainment.

As the name implies, Mie.Roboluscious, India’s first talking robot restaurant, patrons can pose questions by simply uttering ‘Echo’; like ‘Echo, what’s on the weekly special menu?’, and our robots will provide prompt responses. To create memorable birthday surprises for our customers, our robots Mishu and Mishi take center stage, bringing out a cake while serenading the celebrants with birthday songs.

This concept operates on semi-AI technology, which powers the robots. Through precise programming and coding, these robots proficiently serve food, ensuring spillage is a non-issue. Equipped with sensors, they are highly organised and are capable of pausing and politely requesting, “Excuse me, please move to the side; you’re in my way”, should anyone obstruct their path.

What is the background and expertise of the founding team?

Upon completing my mass communication degree and becoming involved in our family business, we felt well-prepared to effectively manage all operational aspects and trusted our team to handle the management. Nevertheless, we maintain vigilance over every facet of the company.

Along with the robot duo, how are you creating differentiation for yourself?

Being the sole robot-serving restaurant in Delhi NCR sets us apart, making us distinct from other dining establishments. We have seating arrangements that cater to the preferences of all age groups, enhancing the overall dining experience with our unique fusion ambiance.

Furthermore, our name, Roboluscious (a blend of “Robo” from our robots Mishu and Mishi, and “luscious” signifying excellent taste), speaks for itself. We encourage you to visit and witness firsthand what unfolds when “Food Meets Robo”.

What milestones has your company achieved so far, and what are your future growth plans?

We didn’t anticipate becoming such a buzzworthy topic in Delhi NCR in such a short timeframe. Our concept was perceived as both unique and innovative by the public, generating significant excitement in the market. With the restaurant gaining traction on social media, numerous well-known influencers such as Technical Guruji, Bhookha Saand, Karan Dua, and others paid us a visit to review and commend our idea.

To commemorate our success, we organised a Bollywood Theme Party, and to our delight, the turnout was double what we had initially expected. We were truly pleased with the positive response from our customers.

How has the start-up evolved since its inception, and what challenges have you overcome along the way?

Similar to many newcomers in various industries, I encountered initial challenges. Being a novice in the food industry, I initially opted for a franchise for the sake of easier management. However, I later discovered that the company was fraudulent, creating a significant struggle not only for me, but also for my parents.

As they say, in the face of ups and downs, a single source of support can make all the difference. In my case, my parents, particularly my mother, became my pillars of strength. Although it was our first foray into the food industry, together, we successfully navigated every obstacle, and we set out to establish our own restaurant.

Now, it warms our hearts to see that our restaurant stands out in the market, with everyone pointing and saying, “This is where robots serve food.” Engaging with customers, receiving their feedback, and sending them off with fond memories and satisfaction bring smiles to our faces.

How does your start-up contribute to the industry or community you operate in?

The culinary world is undergoing significant changes in a technologically-driven global landscape, and we take pride in leading this transformation. Our goal is to revolutionise the dining experience for food enthusiasts worldwide by combining robotic precision with the artistry of gastronomy.

We have unlocked a realm of endless possibilities by integrating advanced robotic technology, seamlessly blending the mechanical skills of our robotic servers with our culinary expertise. Robots have the potential to enhance the enjoyment and convenience of dining out for everyone. We are currently witnessing the dawn of a new era, where the fusion of machines and humans erases boundaries and broadens the horizons of culinary innovation.

What problem does your start-up solve?

As the excitement of dining started to wane and become a typical routine, we established Mie.Roboluscious with the goal of enhancing the dining experience and offering our customers the most extraordinary dinner they've ever encountered. We carefully curated the atmosphere to cater to all age groups, ensuring that everyone enjoys an unmatched dining experience.

How much funding has the company raised, and from which investors?

The investment and funding for Mie.Roboluscious was self-owned, which amounted around Rs 1-1.25 crore, to make it a whole running restaurant from scratch. We keep on investing more in a fixed time interval for needful changes and betterments. We don’t have any investors in our company.

Who are your target customers, and how are you acquiring them?

Our primary focus at our company is children and their mothers, as they are particularly drawn to our offerings. We are captivating this demographic through our unique selling points, which include our robots and the overall atmosphere. Our ambiance is designed to appeal to a wide range of individuals across various age groups.

We have designated areas within our establishment for families, young people, couples, and children, ensuring that everyone can immerse themselves in the restaurant’s atmosphere and have an enjoyable dining experience at Mie.Roboluscious.

What are the major challenges the company faces currently?

Our primary hurdle at the moment is retaining our customers, as many of them initially come to explore our innovative concept. Over time, people have become accustomed to our establishment, and the initial excitement has started to diminish. This presents the challenge of consistently delivering the dining experience we guarantee, ensuring that every customer leaves with a content and satisfied expression, thus securing their continued patronage.

What is the company’s growth plan and vision for the future?

The entire Mie.Roboluscious team is strategising to extend our brand into other cities. We’re now gearing up to establish a franchise chain, with initial target locations being Chandigarh, Ayodhya, Lucknow, and various areas within Delhi NCR. The process is straightforward: individuals interested in opening a restaurant can invest in our franchise and oversee a new branch. The initial investment typically falls in the range of Rs 70-80 lakh, encompassing franchise fees, architectural modifications, staffing, and other necessities. The specific amount depends on the location and the requirements for establishing a strong presence in the market.

How does the company measure success, and what are its key performance indicators (KPIs)?

Our main priority is to ensure complete customer satisfaction without any grievances. Since our establishment, every action we’ve taken has been directed towards this goal. We meticulously evaluate customer reviews and feedback to make continuous improvements and implement the necessary changes. Up to this point, we’ve received positive feedback from the customers we've served, including renowned influencers such as Technical Guruji and Karan Dua. Monitoring our performance closely, we are now in the process of expanding our robotic dining experience to other cities.