Quandoo

Quandoo is a global restaurant reservation platform that connects diners with restaurants. Founded in Berlin in 2012 by Philipp Magin, Ronny Lange, Sebastian Moser, Tim-Hendrik Meyer, and Daniel P. Glasner, the company's mission is to streamline the dining reservation process for both consumers and restaurateurs. The founders, some of whom were previously involved with Groupon Europe, aimed to optimize the restaurant industry through technology.

The company experienced rapid growth, expanding throughout Europe within its first two years. In October 2014, Quandoo received a strategic investment from Japan-based Recruit Holdings through its venture capital fund. This partnership was a prelude to a full acquisition in March 2015, when Recruit Holdings purchased the remaining shares for approximately $219 million (€198.6 million), making Quandoo a wholly-owned subsidiary. Following the acquisition, Quandoo launched in Singapore, Hong Kong, and Australia.

Quandoo operates on a dual-sided marketplace model. For diners, it offers a free and convenient way to discover and book a wide variety of restaurants, from local eateries to Michelin-starred establishments, via its website and mobile app. The platform features filters for price, location, and cuisine, and a loyalty program that rewards users with cashback for making reservations and writing reviews. It also integrates with channels like Google Maps, Instagram, and WeChat to broaden its booking accessibility.

For restaurants, Quandoo provides a suite of software-as-a-service (SaaS) tools to manage reservations, tables, and operations. The business model for restaurateurs involves several revenue streams: an initial setup fee, a monthly subscription fee for the reservation management software, and a fee for each diner that books through the platform. The technology helps restaurants digitize their operations, increase online visibility, manage capacity, and access data-driven insights to make informed decisions.

Headquartered in Berlin, Quandoo operates in 11 to 12 countries, including Germany, the UK, Australia, Italy, and Singapore, and employs approximately 350 people. As part of Recruit Holdings, it forms one of the world's largest restaurant marketing and software companies alongside sister companies like HotPepper.

Keywords: restaurant reservation platform, online booking, table management software, SaaS, FoodTech, restaurant technology, dining marketplace, customer relationship management, digital marketing for restaurants, guest acquisition, yield management, reservation management system, diner loyalty, restaurant operations, Berlin startup, Recruit Holdings subsidiary, Philipp Magin, Ronny Lange, Sebastian Moser, Tim-Hendrik Meyer, Daniel P. Glasner