Going out as a group and not sure about how to plan things? “GroupTable” is here to your rescue. This venture “connects connoisseurs of good food to fine dining restaurants, on the basis of various value propositions.” They do that and a lot more! Founded by Mohan Rao and Anirudh Rao, this venture is working hard to make your get-togethers a memorable occasion each time.
GroupTable started as a daily deals site. Anirudh Rao elaborates on how they evolved to their current model. “We started off with a daily deals site but soon realized that it wasn’t a feasible business model. There was a need for customers to plan outings and parties, so we started GroupTable to help plan such events by offering deals from restaurants and hotels curated for group get-togethers.” They definitely did some digging in to understand their potential market, and have the numbers to back them up. “There is a huge potential market. To give some interesting statistics, the current size of just the casual dining industry is Rs 5000 crores and should hit 9000+ crores by 2018, growing at 18% per annum. We also help people find venues for weddings, functions and get-togethers. We are also entering the Wedding Invitations arena, which is a much unorganized space that is ripe for disruption.”
Both Mohan and Anirudh bring their rich experiences to this venture. Mohan has a background in finance and educational institutes. Anirudh has worked in the Bay Area prior to coming back to start this venture.
Trying to be a bridge between multiple units to give customers a good experience must be a really tough job. GroupTable tells us about some of the challenges they faced. “Building the right team and hiring great people is a problem for every start-up. Other than that, the restaurant and banquet hall industry is highly disorganized, so getting to the right people and explaining how being on our platform is beneficial can prove tricky sometimes.”
Despite these hurdles, the team says the response they are getting has been encouraging.” We are soon launching our banquet and venue finding engine, and also the ability to design invitations for events and parties. We think this will be a gamechanger!”
The team is looking to raise their first round of funding. Investors reading this article, please take note . Expansion plans to different cities is also on the cards for this venture. They will be launching their app next week. ” The app gives users best offers on buffets, alcohol and Happy Hour deals and Sunday brunch offers. App Home Page shows these features. You also earn loyalty points for reserving tables, writing reviews and sharing content via GroupTable. App Rewards Page image shows these features.”
Words of wisdom for future entrepreneurs? “Ideas are plenty; it’s execution that is very important. Also, always believe in yourself. I know these sound clichéd, but it’s so true.”
We thank GroupTable and Anirudh for taking the time to tell us about their journey.
GroupTable is a platform that helps in reservations and planning for your group events. Visit their website to know more and start planning your event with them today.
Images Courtesy Of GroupTable
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