According to an April 20th release, Chipotle Mexican Grill Inc. has established Cultivate Next, a venture fund intended to support Series B Enterprises. As expected the $50 million fund will target innovations for fast casual restaurant chains that are compatible with the corporate strategy of Chipotle.
Curt Garner, Chief Technology Officer at Chipotle stated, "we are exploring investments in emerging innovation that will enhance our employee and guest experiences and possibly revolutionize the restaurant industry".
Chipotle has previously invested in robotic technology, radio-frequency identification for tracking ingredients and in autonomous delivery.