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A London app that helps diners find deals has landed $360,000 in financing and is looking for $500,000 more as it adds restaurants and downloads.
Dealsy, an app to which restaurants can post specials and daily menu changes, not only gives diners a cheaper option when going out but also can help drive traffic to local restaurants.
Now the app is about to add to its staff and launch higher profile marketing campaigns as a result of the funding, founder Jordan Brown said.
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“The money will be geared toward operations, to build our team and developers and for a marketing budget,” he said. “This is a chance to put us on the map.”
Dealsy is looking to raise $500,000 from venture capital firms and angel investors who work with early-stage startups. The $360,000 is from Force One Capital, a venture capital firm in Toronto.
“Force One Capital is excited to support Dealsy’s growth in an aim to bring this disruptive technology into new markets nationally,” Anthony Rossi, chief executive of Force One Capital, said in a release.
“Dealsy’s core business aligns seamlessly with our commitment to supporting forward-thinking disruptive entrepreneurs.”
Dealsy has more than 65 restaurants using the app and more than 5,000 downloads. Dealsy is also partnering with Restaurants Canada that is promoting the app to its members.
“We landed a partnership with Restaurants Canada and it has members across Canada. We align with their mission to get customers back in the door,” Brown said.
“The support we have had from them has been amazing.”
The industry wants to see a return to in-person dining as delivery options such as Skip and Uber charge high fees, up to 30 per cent, to restaurant owners. Restaurants Canada this week will launch a video on its website promoting Dealsy and will also message members directly.
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Dealsy is offering Restaurants Canada members a six-month trial at no cost.
“They are a Canadian startup focusing on a new way to drive customers into restaurants,” said Tracy Macgregor, chief operating officer.
“They had a vision of a new way to develop loyalty as well and we see this as an opportunity. A lot of restaurants are still struggling.”
Restaurants Canada has 30,000 members across Canada.
Winks on Richmond Row in London is one of the restaurants using the app and owner Adam Winkler applauded the recent initiatives.
“Anything to help the restaurant sector is a good thing and it is great for these guys to get this funding,” he said.
“We want to get people in here, in our seats. If we get them in we know they will come back.”
Dealsy was launched in 2021 but was shut down by the COVID-19 pandemic. The app relaunched in 2024 in London with business partner Lucas Paulger and help from the Morrissette Institute of Entrepreneurship, at the Ivey business school at Western University.
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