Restaurant website platform SpotHopper on Tuesday (Nov. 30) completed a Series A fundraising round that will bring in $14 million for the company to expand its sales model and increase feature development.
Software-focused growth equity firm TVC Capital led the funding effort for SpotHopper, which has 3,000 restaurant customers in more than 30 states. Its platform has an immersive content management system that includes catering and private party management solutions, online ordering, email and social media marketing automation, loyalty programs, business analytics, and more.
“Each restaurant is unique and provides an incredible amount of value to its community,” said SpotHopper Co-founder and Chief Operating Officer Niko Ivanovic in the company announcement. “We’re thrilled to continue to help thousands of restaurants showcase their skills, talent, and creativity online, not just in the kitchen.”
SpotHopper recently added texting functionality and working on upcoming integrations into third-party delivery services.
“The mounting stack of challenges facing a restaurant operator can be overwhelming, especially since the pandemic,” said SpotHopper Co-founder and CEO Aleksandar Ivanovic in the company announcement. “We’re thrilled to partner with TVC Capital to bring even more cutting-edge solutions to help local independent restaurants master these challenges.
“The goal of our all-in-one solution is to help operators tackle everything they need to do online from one place, for the lowest cost and the least effort,” he said.
Related: Drive-Thrus Get a Long-Overdue Tech Upgrade for the 2020s
PYMNTS’ 2021 Restaurant Readiness Index, created in collaboration with Paytronix, shows that restaurant managers undervalue the drive-thru channel; 40% of consumers said drive-thru pickup is important for restaurants’ future success, compared to just over 25% of restaurant managers thinking it should be a priority.
Most advances in the restaurant drive-thru experience were created out of necessity because of the COVID-19 pandemic. However, before the coronavirus outbreak, Chipotle launched its Chipotlane mobile order drive-thru lane.
Meanwhile, McDonald’s announced in October that it is partnering with IBM to assist in developing and implementing automated order-taking (AOT) capabilities. Through much of this year, Burger King has been testing a program that uses Bluetooth to identify Royal Perks loyalty program members, personalizing drive-thru signage to the individual customer.
In August, Taco Bell announced its Defy store design, a four-lane, mobile-integrated drive-thru where orders are sent down from the kitchen through a food elevator.
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