Restaurant ecommerce company Bbot has raised $15 million to help expand its contactless ordering and payment platform.
The company founded in 2017 by three naval engineers has grown quickly in the past year. It added 700 customers as the pandemic drove demand for its QR code-enabled ordering tool.
In particular, Bbot will use the funding to improve its ability to integrate with other software. That will include a self-service "app store" that developers can access to connect Bbot to a restaurant's existing tech stack.
“We’ve spent the last four years creating a solid base for our technology that we can build upon,” said CEO and co-founder Steven Simoni in a statement. “We are now focused on expanding our platform so developers can integrate the technology for their restaurant clients and create custom offerings.”
Video courtesy of Bbot
Bbot's technology allows on-premise guests to order and pay with their phone by scanning a QR or NFC code; it also supports off-premise orders. The company says the frictionless platform results in higher check averages and also eases employees' workload. Bbot works with restaurants including Momofuku Group and Tartine Bakery as well as bars, breweries, food halls and ghost kitchens.
The Series A round was led by early-stage venture capital firm CRV and brings Bbot's total funding to $22.3 million. CRV highlighted Bbot's focus on integration as a reason for its investment.
"This functionality enables hospitality operators and software developers to easily introduce features that are being demanded by their patrons and customers," said Reid Christian, a general partner with the firm, in a statement.
Members help make our journalism possible. Become a Restaurant Business member today and unlock exclusive benefits, including unlimited access to all of our content. Sign up here.