ChowNow
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Digital food ordering |
| Founded | 2011 |
| Founder | Christopher Webb, Eric Jaffe |
| Headquarters | Los Angeles, California , United States |
Area served | United States, Canada |
| Products | Online food ordering platform, SaaS for restaurants |
| Website | www |
ChowNow, Inc. is a private company headquartered in Los Angeles, California, specializing in an online platform that connects diners with neighborhood restaurants for pickup and delivery services. Founded in 2011 by Christopher Webb and Eric Jaffe, ChowNow operates within the digital food ordering industry.
History
The inception of ChowNow dates back to 2011, when Christopher Webb, who previously worked at RBC Bank and Lehman Brothers, teamed up with Eric Jaffe, a former investor in commercial real estate. The service officially launched in March 2012.
By January 2013, ChowNow had secured over $4 million in funding, including investments from the accelerator Launchpad LA. Later that year, the company completed a $1 million seed financing round with contributions from GRP Partners, James Bailey, and various angel investors. To support growth and product innovation, ChowNow obtained $10 million in venture capital led by Upfront Ventures. In October 2017, the firm finalized a $20 million Series B funding round spearheaded by Catalyst Investors, which brought its total capital raised to $40 million. Additional backers included Canyon Creek Capital, Clark Landry, Daher Capital, Double M Partners, Karlin Ventures, Tiller Partners, and Velos Partners.
In June 2016, ChowNow formed partnerships with Uber and Postmates to launch the Flex Delivery service. Later that year, it enabled customers to place orders directly through Google search results for thousands of restaurants across the United States and Canada. October 2016 saw the integration of ChowNow’s ordering system with Squarespace, broadening its software-as-a-service offerings tailored to restaurants. By May 2018, the platform expanded its capabilities to allow ordering via restaurant profiles on Instagram.
In March 2024, ChowNow enhanced its global reach and product portfolio by acquiring Cuboh, a Victoria-based point-of-sale food ordering platform; financial details of this transaction were not disclosed.
Overview
ChowNow provides online ordering solutions that empower independent eateries to receive orders through their own branded channels. The company debuted at the National Restaurant Show in Chicago in March 2012 and now collaborates with thousands of restaurants throughout all 50 states.
Besides serving consumers directly, ChowNow equips restaurants with tools to create customized ordering applications that integrate seamlessly with their Facebook pages and Instagram accounts.
Operation
Functioning under a SaaS subscription framework, ChowNow offers an alternative to conventional delivery platforms by giving restaurants greater control while lowering commission costs. Orders are received through restaurant websites, mobile applications, Facebook storefronts, or Google listings; ChowNow manages order processing and maintains communication with customers regarding pickup or delivery arrangements. The system supports multiple payment methods such as Apple Pay, Yelp Pay, and Google Wallet before routing confirmed orders to the respective restaurants.
Moreover, ChowNow gathers order-related data that it analyzes to provide restaurants with actionable insights for targeted marketing campaigns aimed at increasing customer loyalty and driving business expansion.