1001 Menus, a Paris-based startup that maximizes restaurants’ online visibility, has just raised $1.8 million in a investment round led by Elaia Partners (Update – April 2023: The startup seems to be no longer in business under this website, and we therefore deactivated the original link).
After their first fundraising round in December 2012, the young company has already attracted 1,000 restaurants in less than a year. With this second round, 1001 Menus aims to boost its commercial development in France and Europe.
Founded in 2011 by Xavier Zeitoun, Thomas Zeitoun et Julien Balmont, 1001 Menus started as an online directory dedicated to restaurants. After a strategic move in 2012, 1001 Menus has been developing an online visibility management tool designed for restaurants. With a team of 18 employees, sales quadrupled in 2013.
1001 Menus provides restaurant owners with a single dashboard to oversee every online communication channel, including website, mobile application, social networks and last but not least, restaurant online directories and search engines. With the 1001 Menus platform, menus, photos, schedules and all other relevant information can be updated everywhere on the internet, in just one click. As restaurants need to increase online ROI and boost conversion, 1001 Menus offers specific tools, from online booking, to call tracking, to loyalty programmes.
Samantha Jerusalmy of Elaia Partners stated: “1001 Menus offers now restaurants and soon every local business the opportunity to create, generate and optimize an online presence. The innovative 360° approach combined with the technology performance and metrics already brought success to the startup. The scalability of the business model puts 1001 Menus in the best position to become a European leader in the sector. We are very pleased to have joined the adventure!”
Xavier Zeitou, 1001 Menus CEO, explained the startup’s business opportunities: “In Europe, a majority of restaurants has no online presence while 8 out of 10 people look on the web to find a place to eat. We just want to change this, making online communication affordable and natural to every restaurant manager.”
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