Generative AI may be the buzzword du jour but if you talk with former Local Kitchens employees Michael Parlato and Clayton Reynolds about its potential to shape the future of health, nutrition, and retail you may start drinking the Kool Aid. Over the last four months, the duo has been busy building BetterBlends, the first-ever 100% AI-powered food and beverage concept that seeks to create a personalized ordering experience like no other. Over the past month and a half, they have split their time between operating a physical retail store in Mid-Market San Francisco and fine-tuning recommendations and, in turn, customer retention. The team has spent $20k to open its first 900 sqft store and is now in the process of raising a $1.1mm pre-seed round with the goal of branching into other categories while also experimenting with ways to create a highly sticky product that keeps regulars coming back.