Drop, the smart recipe software startup, today announced a partnership that will put its guided cooking software on LG’s SmartThinq line of appliances. This adds to a growing list of major appliance companies that are working with Drop and further illustrates how LG is taking a very open approach when it comes to software partnerships.
Drop’s software provides guided recipes for cooks, and hardware integreations such as the one with LG allows the user to control appliances via the Drop app. Drop CEO, Ben Harris, told me by phone that the Drop app recently hit half a million downloads and that customers can expect to see the Drop integration start with LG ovens and cooktops go live in the next few weeks.
Drop started off as a hardware maker with its connected scale, but pivoted to creating a “Kitchen OS,” with a heavy focus on recipes, for other appliance companies. The company has also been the subject of a multiyear patent infringement lawsuit brought by Perfect Company.
For Drop, the LG deal bolsters its lineup of existing hardware partnerships, which includes Bosch, GE, De’Longhi and Kenwood (not the car stereo maker).
There are plenty of startups vying to be the main software layer that cooks interact with in the connected kitchen, and they are all going for the same hardware partnerships. Rivals SideChef and Innit both announced integrations with LG appliances at CES earlier this year.
For it’s part, LG is showing that it’s open to being, well, open to all comers in the connected kitchen software space. In addition to SideChef and Innit, LG’s SmartThinq appliances work with both Amazon Alexa and Google.
Based in Ireland and San Francisco, Drop has raised $12 million in funding and has 30 employees.