Katie Hotze is the CEO and founder of Grocery Shopii, a Charlotte-based tech startup that uses machine learning to fuel online grocery shopping. With over 20 years of experience in digital marketing, data analytics and business strategy, Hotze was able to turn a personal frustration with online grocery shopping into a nationally recognized retail tech disrupter that’s rapidly expanding in North America, thanks to a partnership with Microsoft for Startups.

Founded in 2019, Grocery Shopii was developed to breathe new life into the commercial grocery industry. Continuously filled with fresh, chef-inspired recipes sourced from top food bloggers and brands, the platform not only streamlines meal planning but also reduces grocery shopping from hours to minutes—all from the device of your choice.  

Prior to launching Grocery Shopii, Hotze worked in management and technology consulting for two decades, leading global marketing teams at Mercer and BearingPoint. She broke away from her corporate career in 2018 to work for herself, giving her the much-needed time, energy and motivation to finish her MBA while also building the Grocery Shopii offering and business model.  

After a year of developing the solution with the help of the University of North Carolina at Charlotte’s Ventureprise customer discovery startup incubator, the platform was named the industry’s “Best Tech Application of 2019” by Progressive Grocer.