InKind
inKind is an Austin-based company that helps provide financing and services to restaurants without charging interest or taking equity.[1] Instead, InKind buy large blocks of food and beverage credit up front at a discount, and then it resells the credit to diners though a mobile app, where they receive perks in return.[2]
As of 2025, the company said it had deployed over $350 million[1] to over 3,000 restaurants in 167 cities in 44 states.[3] By February 2026, inKind stated it had provided more than $600 million in funding to over 6,000 restaurants across the U.S.[4]
Investors include Jay-Z’s investment firm MarcyPen Capital Partners, Yahoo co-founder Jerry Yang, and all four members of the band Metallica.[5]
History
The company was launched in 2017 by brothers Johann and Rajan Moonesinghe, Andrew Harris, and Marcus Triest.[2][6]
For years, the founders put in their own money while the company generated what has been described as “non-meaningful revenue.” The model took time to calibrate with missteps and trial and error.[2]
In the company’s early days Johann Moonesinghe and Harris, who are married, cashed out their home and retirement accounts to keep the company going.[7]
Rajan Moonesinghe passed away in 2022.
In 2024, inKind acquired high-end restaurant group, Etta Collective, out of bankruptcy for $4 million.[8] InKind had been a creditor for Etta.
Services
In addition to its original offerings, inKind now offers tech for restaurants, largely through a system called Sherlock that draws upon data from the restaurants. The system is used for labor management to schedule shifts more efficiently and monitoring restaurant margins.[2]
References
- 1 2 Cobler, Nicole (2025-04-14). "Five questions with InKind's Johann Moonesinghe". Axios. Retrieved 2026-02-15.
- 1 2 3 4 "How inKind Is Rethinking Restaurant Financing". finedininglovers.com. Retrieved 2026-02-15.
- ↑ Squires, Kathleen (2025-02-05). "Dining Out More Might Actually Save You Money. Here's How". The Wall Street Journal. Retrieved 2026-02-15.
- ↑ Cao, Sissi (2026-02-17). "How inKind CEO Johann Moonesinghe Is Trying to Fix the Restaurant Business". Observer. Retrieved 2026-02-18.
- ↑ Cao, Sissi (2026-02-17). "How inKind CEO Johann Moonesinghe Is Trying to Fix the Restaurant Business". Observer. Retrieved 2026-02-18.
- ↑ Cao, Sissi (2026-02-17). "How inKind CEO Johann Moonesinghe Is Trying to Fix the Restaurant Business". Observer. Retrieved 2026-02-18.
- ↑ Cao, Sissi (2026-02-17). "How inKind CEO Johann Moonesinghe Is Trying to Fix the Restaurant Business". Observer. Retrieved 2026-02-18.
- ↑ Jennings, Lisa (2024-05-01). "Restaurant tech firm InKind acquires Etta Collective out of bankruptcy". Restaurant Business. Retrieved 2026-02-15.