Vending

USC student creates app to transform vending placement

Deven Chitkara is attempting to modernize one of the most traditional sectors of unattended retail.

Photo: Linee developer Deven Chitkara

March 6, 2026 by Richard Slawsky

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At just 20 years old, University of Southern California student Deven Chitkara is attempting to modernize one of the most traditional sectors of unattended retail.

The platform he developed, dubbed Linee, aims to bring data intelligence, predictive modeling and location analytics to the vending industry, helping operators identify profitable placements, forecast revenue and connect directly with property owners.

The idea emerged from Chitkara's own experience building a vending machine route and encountering the industry's structural inefficiencies.

"Spending over $1,000 with unknowns such as how much money I would make, what products I should stock, and how many people will walk past my machine are all the questions Linee helps answer," Chitkara said in an email interview. "This is the tool I wish existed when I got started because it takes the guesswork out of the business."

Chitkara chose the name Linee (pronounced like line) because the platform is designed to provide people with the shortest line from opportunity (finding vending placement opportunities) to revenue (making money from the machine).

At the core of Linee is a hierarchical machine learning architecture that forecasts performance and optimizes machine operations. The platform's analytics engine incorporates multiple predictive models built from aggregated mobility data and operator feedback.

The system includes a location revenue predictor that estimates monthly revenue and payback periods, a similarity-based estimator for new addresses, a product recommendation engine designed to maximize sales, and a fleet optimization model that guides expansion and redeployment strategies.

Identifying a missing data layer

Chitkara's entrepreneurial journey began well before vending machines came into his life. His arrival at USC led him to the vending industry as a way to help support his academic endeavors.

"My passion for entrepreneurship started with sneaker reselling throughout high school," Chitkara said. "That's when I found vending machines. If I restocked machines on the weekend, the business worked for itself during the week."

He took what he describes as a significant early risk, investing $1,500 in a used snack machine purchased through Facebook Marketplace. The strategy quickly proved viable.

"Recently built student housing units created opportunities that I capitalized on," Chitkara said. "I realized I was my own target customer: an impulsive buyer, a college student, looking for convenience."

Today, his vending route sells traditional snacks alongside high-caffeine energy drinks, serving locations where convenience and impulse purchasing drive sales. His family has played a crucial role in supporting his entrepreneurial ambitions, including the physical demands of moving and installing heavy vending machines.

Although operating his route generated steady revenue, the process of finding profitable locations revealed a major market challenge. Chitkara discovered most new operators lack reliable tools to evaluate potential sites or identify decision-makers at target properties.

"As a student at USC, pitching my services to locations in the local neighborhood was easy," he said. "However, I realized that most new operators have no way to find a location, determine its value or reach the right person."

Existing solutions offered limited value, he said, and often provide little actionable intelligence. An operator can pay a 'vending locator' hundreds of dollars for cold calls with zero guarantees, or they buy a 'lead list' that is likely just a Google Maps search, he said.

That realization sparked the concept behind Linee.

"I realized the industry was missing a data layer; a 'Zillow or Airbnb for vending' that could tell you the value of a building before you ever knocked on the door," he said.

Data-driven placement intelligence

Linee functions as a location intelligence platform designed to guide vending operators through every stage of deployment. By combining predictive analytics, location intelligence and community-generated insights, Linee treats machine placement less as a speculative gamble and more as a data-driven investment decision.

Users begin by searching an interactive map populated with potential placement opportunities. Each location features a "Linee Score," predicted revenue estimates and key performance indicators derived from data analysis.

The system evaluates properties based on variables such as foot traffic, dwell time, competition levels and property type. Current data sets include warehouses, apartment complexes and nightlife venues; locations Chitkara identifies as particularly strong performers for vending deployments.

Linee also attempts to centralize market data and create collaborative knowledge sharing among operators. The platform allows users to submit site intelligence; for example, noting when a property already has an existing vending contract, preventing others from wasting time pursuing unavailable locations. Chitkara compares the approach to the community-driven navigation app Waze, where user contributions improve system accuracy and value.

"A user searches our map for nearby opportunities. They can click on a pin to see its Linee Score and predicted revenue," Chitkara said. "If they like the data, they unlock verified owner contact information and outreach directly within the platform."

The platform also supports contract generation and ongoing operational optimization. After a machine is placed, Linee provides product recommendations tailored to specific building demographics and traffic patterns.

"We tell the operator what to sell and what to charge," he said. "If a vending machine becomes the most convenient food or drink option and a location has significant foot traffic and dwell time, it will be profitable."

Expansion beyond vending

Linee will generate revenue through a subscription model that provides full platform access to paying users. Its target customers include existing vending operators seeking to scale their businesses and newcomers just entering the industry.

Despite launching its demo only recently and focusing on the Los Angeles area, Linee has already received several hundred signups, Chitkara said. He plans to expand geographic coverage to other locations in the near future.

Additionally, he joined USC's Venture Capital Association to better understand startup financing and investment strategies. Although he has bootstrapped the company so far, Chitkara says external funding may become necessary as operating costs increase.

Whether Linee ultimately reshapes the vending landscape remains to be seen, but its premise aligns with broader trends toward automation, analytics, and technology-enabled retail infrastructure. For now, Chitkara continues refining the platform through user feedback and iterative development, working toward what he hopes will become a global intelligence layer for unattended commerce.

"We are looking at expanding into other unattended retail formats like micro-markets, smart kiosks and even EV charging station amenities," Chitkara said. "Any business where location is the number one driver of success can benefit from the Linee platform."

About Richard Slawsky

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