EatOut

EatOut is an food tech and media business primarily based in Kenya[1] and East Africa. EatOut's mobile app allows to search through hundreds of restaurants, curating information such as photos, menus, maps, contacts, events, offers and reviews. EatOut app users can also claim discounts between 5% - 25% at popular restaurants in Nairobi and other cities in the region.

EatOut
Type of businessPrivate
Available inEnglish
Founded2010
HeadquartersNairobi, Kenya
Area served4 Countries
OwnerMikul Shah, Africa Media Venture Fund (AMVF), Craft Silicon & Others
Founder(s)Mikul Shah
IndustryRestaurants, Food & Drink, Mobile Payments
ProductsEatOut Africa
ServicesDirectory, Bookings
ParentWebsimba Limited
URLwww.eatout.africa

EatOut also publishes the popular Yummy Magazine and organises some of the largest foodie events in the East Africa region including Nairobi & Kampala Restaurant Week, Nairobi & Kampala Burger & Pizza Festivals, Nairobi Wine Week, The Big Brunch and the Taste Awards.

History

EatOut was founded by serial entrepreneur Mikul Shah in 2010. The company raised $300,000 equity investment from a Netherlands-based Africa Media Venture Fund (AMVF) in 2013 and expanded its product portfolio by launching an events business unit. In 2015 EatOut added publishing business arm with the launch of Yummy Magazine, the region's first and only freely distributed lifestyle magazine with a focus on food & drink.

In 2016 EatOut acquired regional East African start ups The Pearl Guide Uganda and Eating in Kigali. The same year EatOut raised a further equity investment of $500,000 from Kenyan fin-tech company Craft Silicon to launch a restaurant loyalty and payments platform.

Partnerships

In October 2012, Wazi WiFi, Google, and EatOut partnered to encourage restaurants to offer Wazi WiFi hotspots.[2]

EatOut also partnered with Safaricom and Kopo Kopo in April 2013 to encourage more restaurants to accept M-Pesa as a payment method.[3]

EatOut sponsors the Best Food Blogger for the Bloggers Association of Kenya Awards

EatOut & Facebook host SME workshops in Nairobi for SMWI Conference

Michelin Starred Chef heading to Nairobi to launch Nairobi Restaurant Week 2017

EatOut & CFC Stanbic Bank launch Yummy Card Program

Investors

Africa Media Venture Fund (AMVF), a Dutch venture fund focused on tech-based media companies, invested in EatOut in July 2012 and holds a minority stake in the company.[4]

Awards and recognition

2017

  • Finalist for Facebook Bots for Messenger Africa & Middle East Challenge
  • Stanford GSB SEED Cohort 2 in East Africa
  • Visa Fintech Bootcamp in Africa
  • Hosts former Noma Chefs in Nairobi for One Star House Party

2016

  • EatOut founder Mikul Shah selected as Business Daily Top 40 under 40 Men
  • Featured On CNBC Africa's, Eye On Kenya

2015

  • First African company to be presenting with Facebook at DMEXCO 2015 InCologne
  • EatOut founder appointed to Safaricom SPARK innovation fund

2014

  • Finalist for Company of the Year - Social Media Awards

2013

  • CIO100 East Africa award
  • Selected for VC4Africa 2013 Cohort

2012

  • Kenya Tourism Award for Digital Media [5]
  • Tandaa World Bank Content Grant [6]
  • CIO 100 First Runner Up [7]

2011

  • Samsung Bada Best Mobile Application [8]
  • Vision 2030 ICT Innovation for Tourism [9]
  • Pivot 25 Finalist [10]

References
  1. Maina, Wangui. "Dutch fund acquires 25pc of Eat Out", “Business Daily Africa”, Nairobi, 8 July 2012. Retrieved on 9 June 2013.
  2. Maina, Wangui. “Restaurants show appetite for Wi-Fi partnership”, “Business Daily Africa”, Nairobi, 17 October 2012. Retrieved on 9 June 2013.
  3. Mwaniki, Charles. "M-Pesa restaurants deal deepends turf wards with banks", Nairobi, 16 April 2013. Retrieved on 9 June 2013.
  4. Maina, Wangui. “Dutch fund acquires 25pc of Eat Out”, “Business Daily Africa”, 8 July 2012. Retrieved on 9 June 2013.
  5. “Eat Out Kenya wins tourism award”, “Biztech Africa”, 25 June 2012. Retrieved 9 June 2013.
  6. “Second round of Tandaa Innovation Grant winners announced”, “CIO East Africa”, 4 May 2012. Retrieved on 9 June 2013.
  7. CIO site Archived 2012-01-08 at the Wayback Machine “CIO East Africa”. Retrieved on 9 June 2013.
  8. “Samsung Kenya Apps Contest Winners Are Named” Archived 2013-05-14 at the Wayback Machine, “Tech Mtaa”, 2 January 2011. Retrieved 9 June 2013.
  9. “Winners Announced: v2030 ICT Innovation” Archived 2013-05-21 at the Wayback Machine, “Connected Kenya Summit: Kenya ICT Board”. Retrieved on 9 June 2013.
  10. "Finalists in Entertainment, Gaming, and Utilities" Archived 2013-06-30 at the Wayback Machine, “Pivot 25”. Retrieved on 9 June 2013.
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