A Melbourne-based restaurant table-filling app has raised £13.6m as it continues its expansion into the UK.
EatClub, an app designed to help restaurants, bars and live music venues to fill up empty tables by pushing time-sensitive discounts for nearby diners to claim, announced that it had launched in London at the end of last month.
The firm has been backed by well-known chef Marco Pierre White and has over 2 million users across eight Australian cities.
It saw early growth after being founded in 2017, but then Covid hit.
“While the world talked about a ‘new normal’, we doubled down,” said Pan Koutlakis, CEO, EatClub.
“The board and our investors aligned on a bold move to keep building, and to use the downtime to create breakthrough tech that would future-proof the business.
“It completely reimagines what a dining incentive should look like. Restaurants get targeted demand, and diners get spontaneity without friction.”
EatClub says the technology driving the success of its app flips surge pricing on its head – giving venues the power to increase their offers during quiet periods.
At the venue, users simply ‘tap to pay’ using EatClub Pay, a digital card that sits in their mobile wallet, with the discount automatically applied – no coupons or awkward conversations with staff needed.
Pierre White said: “London is one of the greatest food-destination cities in the world and empty tables always feel like a missed opportunity… this is a platform that makes sense for the whole industry — diners, chefs, and operators alike.”
James Douglas, partner, Co:Act Capital, added: “It is such an innovative Australian company, creating real value for both the hospitality industry and consumers.
“At a time when restaurants need smarter tools to drive demand and diners are seeking better experiences and value, EatClub delivers on both fronts. We see enormous potential not just in Australia, but globally.”
Co:Act led the round with Gandel Invest, Marbruck, Les Szekely and Platform Advisory all participating.
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