Owner Raises $240M Led by Goldman Sachs Alternatives to Build the AI-Native Platform for Every Local Business

Rhea-AI Summary

Owner, an AI-native platform for local businesses starting with restaurants, announced a $240 million financing round at a $2.3 billion valuation, led by Growth Equity at Goldman Sachs Alternatives (NYSE: GS), with participation from Meritech, Redpoint, Headline, and Jack Altman.

Founded in 2020, Owner reports surpassing $100 million in ARR. Independent restaurant owners are expected to drive over $1 billion in 2026 sales through the platform. Thousands of restaurants and over 100 million U.S. consumers use Owner, which now powers more U.S. locations than Domino's or Taco Bell.

Positive

• $240 million new funding led by Growth Equity at Goldman Sachs Alternatives
• Implied valuation reaches $2.3 billion in latest financing round
• Annual recurring revenue surpasses $100 million since 2020 launch
• Platform expected to drive over $1 billion in 2026 restaurant sales
• Average restaurant online traffic grows 40% within 30 days of launch
• Average direct online revenue grows 40%+ in first year on platform

Negative

• None.

News Explained

The release provides no consideration, dilution, use-of-proceeds, or conversion terms, leaving the financing’s effect on existing ownership and the company’s cash deployment unresolved.

AI-generated analysis. How Rhea-AI works. Not financial advice.

See more from StockTitan in Google Search and AI answers. Adds StockTitan as a preferred source · opens Google

Add on Google Not now

Small business owners are the backbone of America. Owner is building AI to do the work they have never been able to afford.

SAN FRANCISCO, Aug. 28, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Owner is on a mission to arm millions of local business owners with the AI they need to take on Goliaths. It's starting with restaurants. Today, Owner announced it has raised $240 million and reached a $2.3 billion valuation. Growth Equity at Goldman Sachs Alternatives led the financing. Existing investors Meritech, Redpoint, Headline, and Jack Altman also participated.

Owner is the AI CMO and CTO for local businesses. It builds and runs their technology and marketing. That includes their websites, online ordering, mobile apps, CRM, customer support, POS, and AI phone ordering. Its AI agents manage and improve each part automatically. Big corporations spend billions on tech and marketing. Small businesses can't afford that, so Owner is building AI to do that work for them.

Owner launched in 2020 and has surpassed $100 million in ARR. This year alone, independent restaurant owners will drive more than $1 billion in sales through Owner. Thousands of local businesses use the platform, more than 100 million American consumers have used it, and it now powers more U.S. locations than Domino's or Taco Bell. Owner is the #1 rated restaurant technology on Capterra and G2.

A local business owner can talk to Owner like a member of the team. Owner's agents build and run the business's digital presence 24/7. They learn what works across thousands of restaurants and improve performance automatically. A business can ask Owner to promote a menu item, and its agents can create the promotion, update the website, build the campaign, generate the creative, and publish it. Owner can also answer the phone, take orders, reply to reviews and emails, and support customers.

The results:

• Restaurants grow online traffic by 40% on average within 30 days of launching.
• The average restaurant grows direct online revenue by more than 40% in its first year.
• Customers using a restaurant's branded app reorder at 2x the rate of non-app users.

"The world is racing to build AI to replace people's jobs. Owner is building AI to do the opposite: to do the jobs many small business owners have never been able to afford," said Adam Guild, co-founder and CEO of Owner. "Now, for the first time, local restaurants have the same tech advantages as the huge chains they compete with. And soon every small local business, including grocers and salons, will have those advantages too."

Owner's team includes leaders from Shopify, DoorDash, Compass, Salesforce, and HubSpot. More than 35 team members are former founders. The company also uses AI throughout development. It builds in weeks or months what once took years.

Next, Owner will serve every U.S. independent restaurant, expand internationally, and bring its AI system to every local business: salons, spas, independent grocers, and more.

Learn more at https://www.owner.com and read the Series D memo at https://www.owner.com/D. Owner is hiring at https://www.owner.com/careers.

About Growth Equity at Goldman Sachs Alternatives

Goldman Sachs (NYSE: GS) is one of the leading investors in alternatives globally, with over $706 billion in assets and more than 30 years of experience. The business invests in the full spectrum of alternatives including private equity, growth equity, venture capital, private credit, real estate, infrastructure, sustainability, and hedge funds. Clients access these solutions through direct strategies, customized partnerships, and open-architecture programs.

The business is driven by a focus on partnership and shared success with its clients, seeking to deliver long-term investment performance drawing on its global network and deep expertise across industries and markets.

The alternative investments platform is part of Goldman Sachs Asset Management, which delivers investment and advisory services across public and private markets for the world's leading institutions, financial advisors and individuals. Goldman Sachs has approximately $4.0 trillion in assets under supervision globally as of June 30, 2026. Since 2003, Growth Equity at Goldman Sachs Alternatives has invested over $17 billion in companies led by visionary founders and CEOs. The team focuses on investments in growth stage and technology-driven companies spanning multiple industries, including enterprise technology, financial technology, consumer and healthcare. Follow us on LinkedIn.

 

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/owner-raises-240m-led-by-goldman-sachs-alternatives-to-build-the-ai-native-platform-for-every-local-business-302862420.html

SOURCE Owner.com

FAQ

What is Owner and how does it use AI for local businesses?

Owner is an AI-native platform that acts as a virtual CMO and CTO for local businesses, starting with restaurants. According to Owner, its AI agents build and run websites, online ordering, apps, CRM, support, POS, and phone ordering, continuously learning and optimizing performance across thousands of locations.

How much funding did Owner raise in August 2026 and who led the round involving GS?

Owner raised $240 million in August 2026, in a financing led by Growth Equity at Goldman Sachs Alternatives (NYSE: GS). According to Owner, existing investors Meritech, Redpoint, Headline, and Jack Altman also participated, bringing the company’s valuation to about $2.3 billion.

What are Owner's key growth and revenue metrics after the latest funding?

Owner reports surpassing $100 million in annual recurring revenue since its 2020 launch. According to Owner, independent restaurant owners are expected to drive over $1 billion in 2026 sales through the platform, with thousands of businesses and over 100 million U.S. consumers using its technology.

How does Owner impact restaurant online traffic and revenue performance?

Restaurants using Owner see average online traffic growth of about 40% within 30 days of launching. According to Owner, the average restaurant also grows direct online revenue by more than 40% in its first year, while branded app users reorder at roughly twice the rate of non-app users.

How many businesses and consumers use Owner’s AI platform compared with major chains?

Owner states that thousands of local businesses currently use its AI platform, with more than 100 million American consumers having used it. According to Owner, the system now powers more U.S. locations than large restaurant chains such as Domino’s or Taco Bell.

What are Owner’s expansion plans after its $240M round led by Goldman Sachs Alternatives (GS)?

Owner plans to serve every U.S. independent restaurant, expand internationally, and move into other local verticals. According to Owner, future targets include salons, spas, and independent grocers, extending its AI system beyond restaurants to a broader set of neighborhood businesses.