Food-tech start-up has appetite for success
CAIRNS could soon become the headquarters of an international business bringing together the world’s chefs, cooks and grazing table stylists with foodies who love to entertain.
Local food-tech start-up Gathar, described as the Airbnb of dinner parties, has just raised $600,000 in seed funding to take its fledgling business to the next level.
Bursting onto the scene in September 2018 after successful trials in Cairns and Port Douglas, Gathar has since expanded into 10 markets nationally, including Brisbane, Sydney, Melbourne, Byron Bay and the Sunshine Coast.
Gathar co-founder and chief executive Jodie Mlikota said the investment would enable the business to expand across Australia and ultimately, internationally.
“In the two years since we launched in Cairns, there has been a crazy rate of growth.
“The goal is to go global, so the next 6-12 months is Australia and hopefully into New Zealand and then international,” Ms Mlikota said.
But the Cairns-based entrepreneur and co-founders Nicky Jurd and Kaj Haffenden won’t be leaving home.
“We plan to stay headquartered in Cairns,” she said.
Ms Mlikota said the dinner party platform takes the stress out of entertaining by matching chefs, cooks and grazing table stylists, collectively known as ‘culinarians’. with people who love to entertain, but don’t like all the hard work involved before and after.
Customers can book a feast to suit the occasion and budget with more than 4000 guests already generating $200,000 in revenue at 200 gatherings.
A Gathar team member, which may include MasterChef and My Kitchen Rules contestants, then arrives at their home, holiday property or office with all the ingredients to cook, serve and wash up after.
Gathar secured the seed capital from Brisbane-based investor ACAC Innovation, along with co-investors FNQ Angels and the Queensland
Government’s Business Development Fund. It’s the second time FNQ Angels has supported the Cairns start-up, having provided initial capital during its infancy in early 2019.
FNQ Angels president and Halpin Partners director Shaun Donaldson said investors were thrilled with the company’s growth and longterm prospects.
“When we first invested 18 months ago, we were all really excited by the opportunity and that’s still the case today. We are all glad we backed Jodie and Gathar when we did.”
Ms Mlikota said the business had already returned to pre-coronavirus numbers since restrictions were eased.
“Over the coming months we expect to be ahead of where we were before lockdown.”