This startup only has eight employees – but it has its own private chef

He tells us why founder Nathaneo Johnson hired a private chef for his startup. This text is based on a conversation with Johnson, co-founder of Series, an AI-powered social network based in New York. The following text has been edited for length and clarity.

I knew my startup had a problem when our food budget ballooned to over $13,500 a month. Before the end of last year, most of that money was spent on the delivery service DoorDash. Paying for the team’s meals is an extremely important part of how we work. I estimate that this saves us at least two hours per day since no one has to leave the office to get food.

A private chef is cheaper than delivery services

We moved to a new office with a kitchen and realized that a private chef would probably be much cheaper than ordering food every day. So within about a week, my co-founder and I hired someone.

It may seem strange that a team of eight has a professional chef, but I doubt the chef will bankrupt me or give the company a negative aftertaste. Although I initially encountered resistance, this change has given us the opportunity to be healthier and more productive.

Some employees told me I was crazy

My team loved being able to order whatever they wanted from DoorDash. So I knew the chef had to be good enough to beat the temptation of ordering from any restaurant in New York City.

We posted on TikTok looking for a chef, then reached out to people who had expressed interest in the comments and started interviewing.

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The first interview and rehearsal dinner didn’t go well, but I still wanted to pursue the idea.

We conducted further interviews with a few candidates – the chef we hired was the third person we tested. Their food was fantastic and convinced the team that a chef was a good idea.

Three fresh meals a day

Our cook works the usual hours of 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. However, this can vary depending on our operational requirements. Their salary is lower than that of employees in the commercial sector, but is in the high five-figure range. In addition to her salary, she receives a free gym membership and a monthly food allowance to use for team meals.

There are nine of us in total, including her. She prepares three meals for us throughout the day. Some of us have dietary restrictions and calorie goals, which she takes into consideration, and we have a say in the weekly menu.

She tries to prepare healthy meals for us: Breakfast is usually something like maple syrup, bacon, protein pancakes and smoothies. For lunch we have chicken meatballs or buffalo hot honey chicken strips with salad, and we often crave steak too.

Overall, everyone is happy with it. There are a few people who complain – but if you want, you can order the food with your own money.

Eating healthier has increased our productivity

The biggest benefit is honestly the nutrients and balance of the meals we eat now. When we were constantly ordering food, we weren’t eating as healthily. Especially when it got late and we ordered from Five Guys or Popeyes.

I’ve realized that little things like a green smoothie every morning help me start my day right more than anything else. I don’t feel so foggy anymore. I feel more productive. I also believe that the benefits will only increase over time, such as fewer absences due to illness.

Why I don’t recommend a chef to every startup

I believe a company needs the right equipment in the office for a private chef to work. We are lucky to have this combined space in New York with a separate kitchen.

We don’t see, smell or hear anything that goes on in the kitchen. Our chef simply tells us to come to the conference room when the food is ready. I don’t think a chef would work for us without this facility. It would probably be too cramped and I don’t want to have the smell of food in my nose all day.

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As soon as an AI model can cook for us, we will try it

We recently downsized the team by a few people to ensure every role is truly necessary. I believe creativity and vision will always be shaped by people. Everything else can and probably will be replaced by AI to some extent.

This decision to hire a personal chef was about efficiency and cost, but I strongly believe that a chef can be replaced by AI in the near future.