Zest launches AI text-message concierge to plan group dinners

Food discovery startup Zest has launched an AI concierge that works over text messages to help groups decide where to eat. It pools members' tastes, runs votes and books tables. Founded in November 2024 by CEO Mario Gomez-Hall, Zest raised $1.8 million in pre-seed funding from Alexis Ohanian's 776 and Steve Jang of Kindred Ventures.