The Kitchen Lifeline: Catapult’s Rise and Its Model for Main Street

TROY, Mich. – August 25, 2026 – This week, a Michigan-based company named Catapult landed at No. 125 on the prestigious Inc. 5000 list, a distinction reserved for America’s fastest-growing private enterprises. The ranking, based on an astonishing 2,378% revenue growth over three years, is a testament to a powerful business strategy. But the real story isn't just the number; it's the institutional innovation behind it. In an era where local restaurants are fighting for survival against rising costs and digital disruption, Catapult has created less of a business and more of a lifeline—a model that empowers operators to grow not by building new walls, but by maximizing what’s already inside them.

Founded in 2021, Catapult’s ascent validates a quiet but powerful shift in the food service industry. While the initial “ghost kitchen” gold rush saw venture-backed commissaries launch generic brands from remote warehouses, many struggled with brand identity and crippling delivery commissions. Catapult’s founder and CEO, Jake Schostak, saw a different, more sustainable path. His company partners with existing restaurants, turning their latent kitchen capacity into a new engine for profitable online sales. It’s a symbiotic relationship that offers a blueprint for how established community anchors can adapt and thrive in an increasingly digital world.

A New Blueprint for Restaurant Survival

The environment for restaurant operators has never been more fraught with challenges. Thin margins, labor shortages, and the overwhelming dominance of third-party delivery apps have created a perfect storm. Many independent owners lack the capital to expand or the marketing budget to compete for online customers. Catapult addresses this vulnerability directly with a model built on a simple premise: use what you have. Instead of asking partners to invest in new real estate or costly concepts, the company provides a full suite of services—from delivery-only brands and curated menus to proprietary technology and marketing support—with no upfront cost.

This “host kitchen” approach aligns perfectly with where the market is heading. Industry analysis shows a clear pivot away from standalone delivery hubs and toward hybrid models that integrate virtual brands into established brick-and-mortar kitchens. It’s a more efficient, resilient, and community-centric strategy. By helping over 500 partners across the U.S. and Canada generate millions in new sales, Catapult has proven that the future of food delivery may not be in sterile, isolated kitchens, but in the vibrant, established heart of local restaurants. The global online food delivery market, projected to exceed $78 billion in 2026, represents a massive opportunity, and this model provides an accessible entry point for operators who were previously locked out.

From Vision to Validation

Catapult’s remarkable growth is the direct result of a vision forged from deep industry experience. Jake Schostak’s career has spanned the spectrum of the food world, from fast-casual innovators like Sweetgreen to legacy franchise giants like Applebee’s. This unique perspective gave him a clear understanding of the operational hurdles and economic pressures facing both large chains and, more critically, small family-owned businesses. He founded Catapult in 2021 to be an advocate for the latter.

“Being named No. 125 on the Inc. 5000 is an incredible validation of what our team has built, but more importantly, of the value we’re creating for restaurant operators,” Schostak said. “Restaurants are operating in one of the most challenging environments they’ve ever faced. Our mission from day one has been to give operators a practical way to grow sales and profitability using the assets they already have.”

The company’s 2,378% growth from 2022 to 2025 is not just a financial metric; it’s a direct reflection of the market’s hunger for this solution. In a landscape where innovation often demands prohibitive investment, Catapult’s success demonstrates that the most impactful ideas are often those that unlock existing potential rather than demanding new resources.

Beyond the Four Walls: Real-World Impact

The most compelling evidence of Catapult’s impact lies not in its revenue figures, but in the stories of its partners. The company’s model is designed for seamless integration, providing chefs with expertly crafted recipes for delivery-only brands that they prepare alongside their regular menu. The result is pure incremental revenue, generated from the same kitchen, the same staff, and the same inventory.

For many, this new income stream is transformative. One Michigan-based restaurant owner reported that partnering with Catapult boosted his food sales by “about 30% to 40%,” calling the results “really amazing.” In Ohio, another partner shared how the added income created a ripple effect of positive change within her establishment. “With the extra profits from Catapult, we are able to increase our cook's pay and get little things fixed around the bar that would have otherwise been put off,” she stated. These are not abstract gains; they are tangible improvements in the lives of employees and the health of local businesses.

This is the core of the company’s philosophy. “What I’m most proud of is that this growth has come from helping our restaurant partners grow,” Schostak emphasized. “We’ve stayed focused on building something that works operationally, drives meaningful value and makes life easier—not harder—for restaurant teams.”

The Engine of Efficiency

Delivering on the promise of “making life easier” in a chaotic kitchen environment requires more than just a good menu; it demands sophisticated operational support. This is where Catapult’s investment in technology becomes a key differentiator. The company recently solidified a strategic partnership with Otter, a restaurant tech platform, to serve as a central “mission control” for its virtual operations.

By consolidating order aggregation, financial reconciliation, and marketing tools into a single dashboard, Catapult is actively solving one of the biggest pain points of the digital age: tech-stack overload. A pilot program of the integration yielded a 59% reduction in order issues—a critical metric that translates directly to higher customer satisfaction and less stress on kitchen staff. This focus on operational excellence ensures that adding a virtual brand doesn’t add complexity. Instead, it streamlines a new revenue channel, allowing owners and their teams to focus on what they do best: creating great food.

The recognition from Inc. 5000 is a milestone, but it’s also a signpost pointing toward a more equitable and sustainable future for an industry in flux. By building a system that fosters shared success, Catapult has shown that explosive growth and community support can, and should, go hand in hand. The recognition comes as Catapult continues to invest in its technology, team and restaurant partner network while expanding the tools it provides operators to compete in an increasingly digital restaurant economy.