BiteSight's Innovative Approach to Food Delivery

Dayna Williams
Jul 4
2 min read

Lucious McDaniel IV and Zac Schulwolf, co-founders of the food-delivery startup BiteSight, are redefining meal ordering through an innovative video-first app that merges aspects of social media and convenience-based services (Y Combinator, 2024).

The Vision Behind BiteSight

Unlike traditional platforms, BiteSight allows users to discover meals through short, engaging videos rather than static menus, promising delivery within approximately 15 minutes (Blavity, 2024).

Founders' Backgrounds

Lucious McDaniel IV, serving as Chief Eating Officer, previously built a successful product generating $1 million in annual recurring revenue before age 20 and worked in restaurant-tech investing (Y Combinator, 2024). His co-founder, Zac Schulwolf, BiteSight’s Chief Tasting Officer, graduated from the University of Texas at Austin’s Turing Scholars program and brings substantial experience in artificial intelligence and technology to the startup (Y Combinator, 2024).

Startup Milestones

BiteSight gained national attention after a viral TikTok promotion led by McDaniel resulted in the app ranking higher than established services such as Uber Eats on major app store charts (Black Enterprise, 2024).

Established: 2024 (Y Combinator Winter 2024 Batch)
Location: New York City and San Francisco
Funding: Approximately $1.5 million from investors including Y Combinator and SurgePoint (Y Combinator, 2024).

Cultural Impact and Significance

Beyond its innovative model, BiteSight’s rapid rise represents significant progress in representation and visibility for Black entrepreneurs in technology sectors often dominated by larger corporations (Because of Them We Can, 2024).

Future Directions

The founders plan to expand BiteSight’s presence to additional cities, hire talent passionate about technology and culture, and enhance user experiences by integrating more social and community-driven features.

Founder Quote

Reflecting on BiteSight's mission, McDaniel stated, "Food is personal and cultural. BiteSight puts that social connection back into ordering" (Black Enterprise, 2024).

Call To Action

As BiteSight grows, it highlights the broader potential of culturally responsive innovations in reshaping consumer experiences and underscores the importance of supporting diverse entrepreneurial voices. Download BiteSight, follow the founders, and contribute to the growth of Black-led innovation in tech and entrepreneurship.

References

Because of Them We Can. (2024). Meet Lucious McDaniel IV, the founder behind BiteSight, a video-first food delivery app. Retrieved from https://www.becauseofthemwecan.com/blogs/news/meet-lucious-mcdaniel-iv-the-founder-behind-bitesight-a-video-first-food-delivery-app

Black Enterprise. (2024). BiteSight tops Uber Eats in App Store rankings after viral TikTok. Retrieved from https://www.blackenterprise.com/bitesight-tops-ubereats-app-store-after-viral-tiktok/

Blavity. (2024). Black-owned food delivery app ranks ahead of Uber Eats. Retrieved from https://blavity.com/black-owned-food-delivery-app-ranks-ahead-uber-eats

Y Combinator. (2024). BiteSight. Retrieved from https://www.ycombinator.com/companies/bitesight