LA-based expat Australian chef Curtis Stone has signed on with the “Airbnb of dinner events”, catering startup Gathar, because the Queensland startup expands into the US market.
Gathar’s US enlargement follows a $1 million in post-seed funding led by angel funding group ACAC Innovation, together with Up Financial institution co-founder, Dominic Pym among the many new buyers backing the non-public chef and catering platform. Gathar beforehand raised $600,000 in June 2020.
Stone, now a Michelin-starred chef and restaurateur, opened his first solo restaurant, Maude in Beverly Hills in 2014.
The chef, who discovered fame as a daily on Oprah, mentioned he was proud to introduce Gathar to the US at a time when extra cooks are making the transfer in direction of the creator financial system.
“The factor that excites me about Gathar is the superb neighborhood of cooks and caterers we’ll be supporting, giving them the flexibility to create restaurant-quality eating experiences for individuals within the consolation of their very own houses,” he mentioned.
“The world has modified for cooks. Put up-pandemic, we’re seeing extra cooks wanting to start out their very own non-public chef companies and I feel Gathar is within the excellent place to assist this shift inside the trade.”
Gathar CEO and co-founder, Jodie Mlikota mentioned the enterprise has seen a 330% enhance in demand final 12 months.
“Our progress in income and talent to draw funding, even throughout pandemics and floods, has confirmed our resilience and potential,” she mentioned.
“It’s so encouraging to know our customers, buyers and companions like Curtis can see the probabilities forward for Gathar globally.”
Gathar launched in Cairns and Port Douglas in far north Queensland in late 2018, and now operates in 27 places nationally, collaborating with greater than 180 cooks, cooks, caterers and stylists.
Mlikota says the capital raised might be used to scale the Gathar platform and Australian staff in addition to establishing the model’s presence in the US.
“Over the previous 4 years, our focus has been on constructing a worldwide, scalable platform that adjustments the best way the world gathers,” she mentioned.
“We’ve created hundreds of fantastic eating experiences in Australia from date nights to dinner events, company occasions and weddings, and we will’t wait to assist LA get ‘gatharing’ quickly.”
ACAC Innovation CEO Bryce Greig, an early stage backer of the Collect mentioned it was “a simple resolution” to steer the brand new capital spherical.
“Gathar’s progress within the Australian market offers us enormous confidence for his or her entry into the US and enlargement into future places past LA.”
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