Wonder maps Texas expansion and AI restaurant tools ahead of possible IPO

Wonder is preparing to expand into Texas while developing artificial-intelligence tools that could let entrepreneurs and influencers create restaurant brands through its platform.

The company’s Texas plans include the Houston, Austin, San Antonio and Dallas-Fort Worth metropolitan areas. Wonder identifies Texas as its first market outside the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic. Initial openings are planned for early 2027.

Wonder has partnered with Zipline to pursue drone delivery at its Texas locations beginning in 2027. The company expects drones to account for half of its Texas deliveries that year.

The Texas push follows a $650 million Series D financing completed at a $9 billion pre-money valuation. Wonder says the money will support expansion, robotics, artificial intelligence and operating infrastructure.

The company is also building Wonder Create, a tool intended to help entrepreneurs and influencers develop restaurant brands with artificial intelligence. The planned system is designed to generate menus and run those concepts through Wonder’s platform.

Wonder’s kitchens can handle several restaurant concepts from one site. Its operating model includes increasingly robotic, all-electric kitchens, allowing the company to combine multiple food brands with shared restaurant infrastructure.

Wonder bought Infinite Kitchen technology from Sweetgreen for $186 million in 2025. The acquisition added technology to a business that combines food halls, delivery operations and restaurant technology.

The company had raised approximately $2.4 billion in private funding and operated approximately 130 locations, according to Axios. Wonder also planned to make drone delivery available in Texas in 2027.

Wonder has taken steps toward a possible public offering as it expands. The company hired Gabrielle Rabinovitch to help prepare for a potential 2027 initial public offering and said it was developing the infrastructure, leadership and governance needed for early-2027 IPO readiness.

The Texas rollout, delivery partnership, financing and restaurant-creation software give Wonder several expansion tracks at once. Its plans combine physical locations, automated kitchen systems, delivery technology and tools for launching new restaurant concepts through the same platform.