Zest Launches AI Concierge via SMS with Integrated Reservations

Key Takeaways

1Zest launches an AI agent via SMS that recommends and books restaurants through OpenTable, Resy, and SevenRooms

2The service personalizes its suggestions using banking data imported via Plaid

3The agent also works in groups, aggregating preferences and incorporating a voting feature

Why it matters : Zest aims to monetize reservations and orders by leveraging automation and personalized recommendations.

The startup Zest is rolling out a conversational agent via SMS that suggests restaurants and reserves tables through partner services. The service relies on users' payment histories and aims to generate revenue from reservations, with food ordering coming soon.

Reservations and Revenue Announced by Zest

Mario Gomez-Hall states that reservations and orders will be Zest's primary sources of revenue. He specifies that Zest currently reserves tables through OpenTable or Resy, and that food ordering is on the way, with transactions to follow. The startup delayed the launch of its concierge to add the reservation feature after starting tests last month. It hopes that by switching to SMS, it will surpass its initial thousands of users and generate revenue.

What the Agent Does in an SMS Thread

Zest's AI concierge, launched via SMS, checks availability and makes reservations through OpenTable, Resy, and SevenRooms. It responds to requests based on cuisine, cravings, occasions, dietary restrictions, or neighborhoods, and can provide information such as crowd levels, Wi-Fi availability, or send the menu. During tests, it suggested venues that aligned with criteria like time, group size, and location. The service incorporates the idea of integrating recommendations and the reservation step directly into the messages.

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Personalization Based on Payments

To personalize its suggestions, Zest connects to users' credit cards to understand where they dine and infer their tastes, including for local or travel recommendations. Data is imported via Plaid, and Zest focuses on transactions in the food and beverage categories. Mario Gomez-Hall claims that the agent also responds based on friends' histories, that it does not require lengthy prior conversations, and that it learns faster than a general assistant by relying on places actually visited, a logic he finds useful beyond just dinner.

Individual and Group Use

The concierge is reachable via SMS at (212) 470-6067. It can be added to a group chat, aggregate participants' preferences, and suggest compatible venues. A voting feature is available in the thread, and the agent can reserve a table for the entire group without leaving the conversation.

A Recent and Funded Startup

Zest launched its restaurant discovery app earlier this year and was founded in November 2024. The company raised $1.8 million in pre-seed funding, notably from Alexis Ohanian via 776 and Steve Jang via Kindred Ventures. Its leader summarizes the approach by stating that the agent is now the product.