Berlin-based startup orderbird has closed its second round of funding worth more than €2.7 million. Investment firm ALSTIN took part in the round for the restaurant payment service, which will eventually allow users to order food and drink directly from their smartphones.
The money will be used to expand the company’s team of programmers and to roll out the service across Germany. ALSTIN has provided €2.4 million of the total, while existing shareholders also participated in the round.
The startup has developed an inexpensive and flexible Point of Sale (POS) and accounting system for restaurants using iPads and iPod Touches. The system allows restaurateurs and other food and drink businesses to efficiently organise their entire culinary operations, write invoices and print receipts. The orderbird service is modular and flexibly scalable so can be used by small restaurants at an entry level and then be adapted to specific needs.
With the money raised, orderbird is planning to develop its customer ordering service. Users will be able to order food and drink directly through their smartphones, with the orders transmitted directly into the POS system and printed out in the kitchen or bar. The bill can also be paid directly from a user’s orderbird account.
After successful pilot projects in Berlin and Munich, the service is set to be rolled out across the rest of Germany in the second half of 2012. The company also wants to think internationally with a focus on nearby countries. Initial efforts, however, have already been carried out in Asia.
The development and sales teams will be expanded with the funds, according to orderbird CEO Jakob Schreyer: “We are urgently looking for more programmers to develop our iOS software, who have the desire to strengthen our team in Berlin.”
They will be joining an award-winning setup – orderbird has already landed the Intergastra Innovation Prize 2012 and has won the Financial Times Deutschland enable2start competition.