Queensland at-home catering platform Gathar has raised practically $800,000 in a crowdfunding on the female-founder centered Microwd.

The non-public chef platform, dubbed the Airbnb of dinner events, partnered with expat movie star chef Curtis Stone to take the idea to the US, kicking off in his residence state of California in the beginning of 2023.

Greater than 80 buyers tipped $797,500 into the Microwd CSF marketing campaign.

Cofounder and CEO Jodie Mlikota launched Gathar in 2018, initially in her far north Queensland residence cities of Cairns and Port Douglas. It has now expanded to 30 markets nationally, together with Brisbane, Sydney, and Melbourne, and the vacation locations of Byron Bay and the Sunshine Coast in Queensland, and 35 globally.

“We’re thrilled with the outcomes of our first crowdfunding marketing campaign. We hoped to lift a minimal of $500,000, so securing nearly $800,000 within the present market was a incredible final result,” Mlikota stated.

“We’ve got a imaginative and prescient to change into the primary world platform for superb culinary experiences, and we’re excited to convey each refined and mum and pa buyers on that journey with us.
We have been significantly heartened to see so many individuals from our neighborhood come on board, with a lot of our cooks, clients and employees investing in our future development.”

Gathar caterers come to your own home, vacation home, or workplace and prepare dinner, serve, and wash up after. Demand soared by 330% on the top of the Covid-19 pandemic, and it had booked greater than $5 million in income by the launch of the increase, which had been seeking to increase as much as $2 million on a pre-money valuation of $12.3 million.

Mlikota stated the money injection shall be used to broaden within the US. Gathar US has already delivered catering for large manufacturers equivalent to Amazon, TikTok and SheIn.

“After launching in California earlier this 12 months, we’ve since expanded into Texas, with extra states to return,” she stated.

“We’re additionally wanting ahead to enhancing our already standard new meal prep providing, whereas rising our in-house B2B and know-how groups to make sure we are able to finest meet the wants of the market.

Former banking exec and Microwd CEO Megan Owen launched the crowdfunding platform final 12 months to assist girls entrepreneurs within the battle to lift and already has a number of profitable campaigns beneath its belt, together with for Mizzie the Kangaroo and Hoopsy.

The Gathar founder stated “they couldn’t have requested for a greater associate” for his or her first crowdfunding marketing campaign.

“Not solely is Megan is captivated with supporting women-led development corporations, she can also be highly-successful in her personal proper and has helped us each step of the way in which,” she stated.

Mlikota stated their imaginative and prescient is to change into “the primary world platform for superb culinary experiences”, from intimate dinner events to weekly household meals and huge company occasions.