Mobile ordering and payment business QikServe has won a funding round of £2.7 million led by Maven Capital Partners, which will enable the rapid roll-out of its software platform across the hospitality sector.
Founded in 2011 by entrepreneurs Daniel Rodgers and Ronnie Forbes, QikServe, which has developed a patented B2B cloud-based platform aimed at hospitality operators, enabling customers to order and pay for items from a smartphone, tablet or self-service terminal.
The funding, which includes a £2 million investment from Maven, alongside £700,000 of additional backing from existing investors Par Equity, Equity Gap and Scottish Enterprise, will support the global roll-out of QikServe’s platform, including major expansion into the United States.
QikServe’s platform enables customers to discover restaurants, check-in to tables, browse menus, place orders, save and redeem loyalty points or vouchers, and pay their bill directly from their mobile phone or tablet.
It is the only accredited mobile ordering system fully integrated with EPOS provider Oracle Hospitality, and provides QikServe with access to over 330,000 accounts across 180 countries.
Daniel Rodgers, chief executive at QikServe, said: “Mobile ordering and payments are now pressing concerns for businesses across the global hospitality sector as they seek to improve service, reduce costs and meet the expectations of the modern consumer.
“We are already working closely with billion-dollar hospitality companies and this funding, combined with our Oracle integration, will accelerate our global footprint, strengthening our position at the forefront of enterprise solutions for hospitality.”
David Milroy, investment director at Maven, added: “The hospitality market needs to adapt in the same way that the wider retail market has responded to evolving consumer habits.
“With Millennials in particular demanding mobile solutions there is a clear need for the hospitality sector to embrace technology.”
Maven was advised by Burness Paull on the transaction.
