Rome-based hospitality technology startup Bestie Bite has secured €1.5 million in fresh funding as it accelerates its expansion into the United States. The company, which aims to democratize marketing for restaurants and simplify restaurant discovery through authentic video reviews, completed the investment through a SAFE instrument.
The Grassi family, through its family holding company G&G, a shareholder of E80 Group S.p.A., led the funding round. Notably, Bestie Bite raised the additional capital less than four months after securing €700,000 in its first funding round led by Techstars. Consequently, the startup has now raised a total of €2.2 million since its inception.
Commenting on the milestone, Carlotta Robbe Di Lorenzo and Caterina Vertefeuille, co-founders of Bestie Bite, said, “We want to change this market. Authenticity is the most valuable and scarce asset on the web: we are building a new standard and a technological layer that brings the full power of artificial intelligence to restaurants, always starting from real content. With this round, we are accelerating from Italy to the United States to make this the global standard.”
Founded in 2024 by Carlotta Robbe Di Lorenzo and Caterina Vertefeuille, Bestie Bite helps consumers discover restaurants, bars, and hotels through short-form videos created by real users. At the same time, the startup supports hospitality businesses through an AI-driven video marketing platform specifically designed for the industry.
According to the company, both consumers and restaurant owners face significant challenges in today’s digital landscape. On one hand, consumers—particularly younger generations—often struggle to identify trustworthy dining and hospitality options due to unreliable written reviews, fragmented information, and content heavily influenced by sponsored promotions and influencers. On the other hand, many restaurants and local hospitality businesses lack the marketing expertise and budgets required to stand out online, making it difficult for potential customers to discover them.
To address these challenges, Bestie Bite has integrated artificial intelligence throughout its platform. For consumers, the application analyzes preferences and search intent to recommend suitable restaurants, bars, and hotels through authentic video content. As a result, users can make more informed decisions faster and with greater confidence.
Furthermore, the company differentiates itself by implementing strict verification standards and authenticity measures. These include authentication systems, fraud detection tools, and AI-powered video detection technology that help ensure the reliability of user-generated content.
The platform also encourages user participation through a gamified rewards system. Users who upload authentic video content receive cashback incentives, while partner restaurant campaigns known as Missions offer higher rewards directly linked to the platform’s business model. This approach helps generate high-quality content while strengthening trust within the community.
Meanwhile, Bestie Bite has introduced what it describes as an “AI Marketing Employee” for the hospitality sector. This artificial intelligence system can effectively replace traditional social media managers and marketing agencies by creating and executing marketing strategies for restaurants and hospitality venues.
Using a single authentic video from the Bestie Bite community, the AI automatically generates a comprehensive editorial calendar for the following month and publishes content across the venue’s digital channels without requiring involvement from the business owner. Additionally, the platform provides sentiment analysis and performance metrics, enabling businesses to monitor customer satisfaction and service quality in real time.
The startup has already demonstrated significant organic growth. Bestie Bite reports more than 100,000 users, over 120,000 uploaded videos, and a presence in more than 80 countries worldwide. One of its notable early enterprise use cases includes Pescaria, which uses the platform to acquire reusable video content while continuously analyzing customer experiences and feedback.
Looking ahead, the company plans to strengthen its presence in Italy while prioritizing expansion into the United States. To support this strategy, Bestie Bite has established a base in San Francisco, a market the founders explored earlier this year.
During its time in the city, the startup secured partnerships with prominent local establishments, including Tony’s Pizza and North Beach Restaurant. Moreover, the platform has already attracted thousands of users and accumulated reviews covering more than 500 restaurants in the San Francisco market.
Bestie Bite currently operates its headquarters in Rome at the House of Emerging Technologies and maintains a second innovation hub at OGR Tech in Turin. With fresh funding and growing international traction, the startup aims to establish a new global standard for restaurant discovery and hospitality marketing powered by authentic content and artificial intelligence.
