SME story: Interview with Sean Trevaskis, Enver Sorkun, founders of Growdash

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What inspired you to start Growdash?

The idea for the business stemmed from our experience working in the food delivery industry, with Talabat and Deliveroo, and witnessing the challenges that restaurants faced in effectively leveraging data to drive growth.

The turning point was when we realised the immense potential of analytics and business intelligence in transforming the way restaurants operate and make data-driven decisions. The motivation to start Growdash came from a deep passion for empowering restaurants with advanced tools to maximise their sales and profitability.

Fuelled by a change in consumer behaviour, particularly driven by the pandemic, it is projected that by 2025, online sales channels will contribute to more than 50 per cent of a restaurant’s business.

The adoption of a data-driven approach is essential for restaurants to gain insights, improve efficiency, enhance customer relationships, optimise menus, and increase revenue while striving to remain profitable in a super competitive environment.

What were the challenges you faced in the initial stages?

We encountered several significant challenges that truly tested our determination and problem-solving abilities. The restaurant industry is incredibly dynamic and competitive, with unique pain points that needed addressing.

Understanding the specific needs of restaurant owners and operators was crucial to developing a solution that could make a meaningful impact. Creating a robust and scalable technology platform was no easy feat.

We needed a system that could seamlessly integrate with various online sales channels, process real-time data, and deliver actionable insights. It demanded substantial investment and constant refinement to meet the high standards we set.

Introducing a data-driven approach and convincing restaurant owners to embrace it, required building trust and showcasing the value of our solution. We had to demonstrate that our platform could genuinely empower them to drive growth and profitability.

Like any startup, securing sufficient funding to fuel our growth was also a significant challenge. We needed financial support to invest in technology development, marketing efforts, and expanding our team.

The restaurant analytics industry already had established players, and we faced competition from other companies vying for market share. Standing out in a crowded landscape and showcasing our unique value proposition was essential.

Assembling a team of talented individuals who shared our vision and passion was critical. Finding the right mix of skills and expertise, especially in the early stages, required careful selection and negotiation. Our success depended on forming partnerships with online sales channels like Talabat and Deliveroo. This involved strategic negotiations and seamless integration to provide the best possible service to our clients.

Our journey has taught us the value of resilience, adaptability, and relentless pursuit of our vision, making Growdash the transformative platform it is today.

Can you explain Growdash’s business model?

We operate on a subscription-based business model, providing restaurants with tiered pricing plans to access our platform’s comprehensive analytics and features. We offer real-time data insights, advanced analytics and actionable recommendations, allowing restaurants to make data-driven decisions for growth and profitability.

Our subscription model ensures that restaurants have full access to our platform’s capabilities, empowering them to optimise their online sales channels, enhance marketing campaigns, and drive bottom-line profitability.

Growdash’s solution seamlessly integrates with popular online sales channels like Talabat and Deliveroo. This integration streamlines the data aggregation process, making it easy for restaurant owners and operators to access and interpret the data, ultimately improving their online sales performance.

What are your plans to raise capital and expand in the region?

We have just closed a $750,000 pre-seed round of funding led by Flat6Labs. The round also included participation from Plus VC, Judah VC, TPN Investments as well as a list of angel investors, including former Talabat CEO, Abdulhamid Alomar, and serial entrepreneur, Zeid Husban. We also plan to raise our seed round in Q4 this year.

We will use our recent funding to execute our ambitious expansion plans across new markets and broaden our client base. We are actively exploring opportunities to launch in new markets such as Qatar and Saudi Arabia.

Our expansion strategy is focused on markets where online food delivery and ordering are thriving and where restaurants are seeking advanced analytics solutions to drive growth.

Also read: SME story: Interview with Chafic Idriss, Rayan Antonios, Karam El Dik, founders of Twig