EatWith has raised $8 million in a Series A financing round led by Greylock Partners with participation from previous investor Genesis Partners and individual angels. Simon Rothman from Greylock Partners will join EatWith's board.
While Airbnb has opened new horizons for tourist accommodation, so EatWith seeks to revolutionize eating out for both travelers and diners looking for a new culinary experience in their home city with the social opportunity to meet new people adding extra spice to the menu. At the same time budding chefs can build a reputation and make money using their own homes as restaurants.
With the funding from the latest financing round, EatWith, which was co-founded in Israel in 2012 by CEO Guy Michlin and CTO Shemer Schwarz, plans building a strong presence in major cities around the world including Barcelona, Rome, Paris and New York. The company recently moved its headquarters from Israel to San Francisco.
EatWith already has more than 500 hosts on the platform who have fed tens of thousands of guests in more than 30 countries and 160 cities worldwide.
Michlin said, “Until now, there were only two dining options: to eat at home or eat at a restaurant. Our mission is to change the way people eat, travel and interact with each other by creating a dining experience that brings individuals together over a shared meal. Greylock’s support will enable EatWith expand to more cities around the world.”
Rothman said, “EatWith is building a business that takes advantage of a few significant macro trends: People are becoming more comfortable with the mechanics of the marketplace economy, online technology platforms are making it easier for people to connect offline, and foodie culture has meant more people are actively seeking out unique dining experiences."
Published by Globes [online], Israel business news - www.globes-online.com - on September 21, 2014
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