Ben Chostner

At Chef we believe that AI’s biggest impact will be on the physical world, representing 90% of Global GDP. In the food industry, for example, in 2023 there were 1,137,000 jobs unfilled in food preparation and service (Bureau for Labor Statistics). These growing labor shortages are forcing food companies to leave millions of dollars on the table every year in unmet demand. As this pain becomes more acute, food companies are more aggressively seeking out alternatives, including off-shoring more and more parts of the food supply chain to other countries where there is more labor available; this of course comes with its own significant risks for the US. Chef Robotics offers a new way for food companies to overcome their labor shortage and increase production volume using AI-enabled robots that mimic the flexibility of humans. Chef allows companies to maximize revenue by meeting demand, while keeping the American food supply chain onshore. Chefs mission is to accelerate the advent of intelligent machines in the world to empower humans to do what humans do best.

Sun & Swell Foods provides nourishing, naturally delicious plant-based snacks in eco-friendly, plastic-free packaging. Our products ensure high-quality, sustainable choices for health-conscious consumers and businesses alike. We offer a line of shelf-stable snacks including Real Food Bars, Dried Fruits, and Trail Mixes - in both single-serve and bulk sizes. Our snacks are loved in corporate office breakrooms, hotels, coffee shops, and more.

InnerPlant gives plants a voice via technology that enables crops to communicate what they need. Our crops signal optically if they need more Nitrogen, are attacked by pathogens or insects. Our easy to collect signals can be picked up from field equipment and all the way up to satellites in space. InnerPlant is creating a new data source for the agriculture ecosystem. Enabling efficient cost effective monitoring of large scale crops like soybeans and corn and plant by plant management from field equipment. Driving up to 20% higher yields, while reducing inputs by over 30%. The future of farming is more efficient, more resilient, and more sustainable.

Reduce the time, cost, and complexity of your robotic development to ensure commercial success with our proven services and tools. Our offerings include: - Robotic Product Risk Audit: A structured review to surface your highest-risk assumptions and prioritize the few moves that will unlock the most value - Rapid Customer Learning Experiments: Design and sequence lean experiments that quickly validate what customers value before you commit major resources. - Storytelling & Fundraising Support: Refine your narrative, deck, and data so investors clearly see the opportunity, the proof, and the path ahead. - Unit Economics Deep-Dive: Analyze pricing, costs, and usage patterns to build a path to durable margins and long-term profitability.

Launched in 2016, the MIT Sandbox Innovation Fund Program provides seed funding, mentorship, and tailored entrepreneurship education that empowers MIT student innovators to explore, take risks, and prepare to launch. The goal of the program is to enable any MIT student — inspired to solve a problem with an innovative solution — to learn and experience entrepreneurship. MIT Sandbox is the foundation of the entrepreneurial ecosystem at MIT. Each year, the program opens the door to entrepreneurship for hundreds of undergraduate students, master’s students, and PhDs and provides a launchpad where they can strategize, experiment, and grow. The program is not a competition. MIT Sandbox accepts teams at all stages of the start-up process who demonstrate a commitment to their idea and a willingness to invest in initial research and planning. Many teams spend 12-18 months in the Sandbox developing into viable startups by leveraging guidance from experienced mentors, insights from startup-related experts, and up to $25K in non-dilutive, cumulative funding. It is a learning experience for all and a life-altering experience for many. #entrepreneurship #startups

At Chef we believe that AI’s biggest impact will be on the physical world, representing 90% of Global GDP. In the food industry, for example, in 2023 there were 1,137,000 jobs unfilled in food preparation and service (Bureau for Labor Statistics). These growing labor shortages are forcing food companies to leave millions of dollars on the table every year in unmet demand. As this pain becomes more acute, food companies are more aggressively seeking out alternatives, including off-shoring more and more parts of the food supply chain to other countries where there is more labor available; this of course comes with its own significant risks for the US. Chef Robotics offers a new way for food companies to overcome their labor shortage and increase production volume using AI-enabled robots that mimic the flexibility of humans. Chef allows companies to maximize revenue by meeting demand, while keeping the American food supply chain onshore. Chefs mission is to accelerate the advent of intelligent machines in the world to empower humans to do what humans do best.

Sun & Swell Foods provides nourishing, naturally delicious plant-based snacks in eco-friendly, plastic-free packaging. Our products ensure high-quality, sustainable choices for health-conscious consumers and businesses alike. We offer a line of shelf-stable snacks including Real Food Bars, Dried Fruits, and Trail Mixes - in both single-serve and bulk sizes. Our snacks are loved in corporate office breakrooms, hotels, coffee shops, and more.

InnerPlant gives plants a voice via technology that enables crops to communicate what they need. Our crops signal optically if they need more Nitrogen, are attacked by pathogens or insects. Our easy to collect signals can be picked up from field equipment and all the way up to satellites in space. InnerPlant is creating a new data source for the agriculture ecosystem. Enabling efficient cost effective monitoring of large scale crops like soybeans and corn and plant by plant management from field equipment. Driving up to 20% higher yields, while reducing inputs by over 30%. The future of farming is more efficient, more resilient, and more sustainable.