Liberty Mutual Investments, the investment arm of Liberty Mutual Group, announced a financing partnership with inKind, a restaurant commerce technology company focused on capital access, customer acquisition and operator tools.
LMI provided more than $320 mn in financing and acted as both senior and mezzanine lender.
The funding will support inKind’s role as a capital provider for restaurants and expand its work across the U.S. restaurant and foodservice sector, the country’s second-largest source of private-sector employment, according to Beinsure.
Founded in 2014, inKind has delivered more than $600 mn in funding to restaurants across the U.S. The company connects restaurant partners with diners through its app, where users buy food and beverage credits and receive up to 25% back in rewards.
More than 7,700 restaurants use the platform. inKind’s model turns future dining demand into upfront growth capital, giving operators a different route from expensive debt, equity dilution or marketing built around discounts.
Johann Moonesinghe, CEO and co-founder of inKind, said restaurants remain one of the strongest sources of local job creation in the U.S. When a restaurant grows, he said, the gains reach chefs, servers, bartenders, managers, suppliers, landlords and the surrounding neighborhood.
The inKind team has built an exceptional and differentiated platform that creates value for restaurants and consumers alike, and we are tremendously excited to partner with them as they kick off this next phase of growth
John Kim, Head of Alternative Credit at Liberty Mutual Investments
“This transaction reflects our conviction in businesses that expand economic opportunity through innovative solutions, and our long-term capital and ability to invest across capital structures position us to be a strategic partner as inKind continues to scale its impact,” said John Kim.
The transaction came through LMI’s Alternative Credit platform, which provides tailored financing across the capital structure. For LMI, the deal also shows its ability to combine senior and mezzanine capital in one restaurant technology financing package.
John Kim, Head of Alternative Credit at Liberty Mutual Investments, said inKind has built a differentiated platform serving restaurants and consumers. He said LMI’s long-term capital and cross-structure investment capacity position the firm to support inKind as it enters its next growth phase.
The new financing will help inKind expand its restaurant network and develop AI-native tools for operators.
The company plans to use those tools to drive customer demand during slower periods by drawing from its diner base, which now reaches almost 5 mn guests nationwide.
According to Beinsure, the financing fits a broader shift in restaurant technology, where capital, loyalty and demand generation increasingly sit inside the same platform. For restaurants, the appeal lies in receiving upfront funding tied to future customer spending, rather than taking on conventional debt or selling equity.
LMI invests more than $125 bn in long-term capital globally on behalf of Liberty Mutual. Its platform covers liquid markets, credit and alternative strategies, with a mandate to generate risk-adjusted returns and support Liberty’s broader business strategy.
Earlier this year, inKind raised $450 mn to expand the platform to 10,000 additional restaurants and improve its in-app dining experience. To date, the company has rewarded more than 4 mn users with over $175 mn in dining rewards.
Liberty Mutual Investments operates as the investment firm for Liberty Mutual Group, a global insurance and capital solutions company. The firm invests across liquid, credit and alternative strategies and works with partners on long-term business growth.
Liberty Mutual Group Asset Management Inc. does business under the Liberty Mutual Investments name.
inKind describes itself as a restaurant growth network built by restaurant owners for restaurant owners.
The company provides upfront capital and demand tools, helping operators attract diners at better times while giving guests a way to find restaurants and earn rewards for future visits.
The platform now connects almost 5 mn guests with more than 7,700 restaurants across the U.S. Its partners include restaurant groups such as MINA Group, Ethan Stowell Restaurants and Jose Andres Group, as well as independent restaurants including Okan, Kann and Superiority Burger.
inKind has provided more than $600 mn in capital to restaurant partners since launch. The company says its goal is to help restaurants grow without turning dining into discounts, inventory or ad placements.
