London foodie start-up Grub Club to launch crowdfunding campaign
New food start-up Grub Club is set to launch a new crowdfunding campaign to help develop its aim of creating adventurous dining experiences and supper clubs.
From 25 September, the project will be aiming to raise funds via online service Crowd Cube, seeking between £250,000 and £500,000. Investors will receive equity in return, and those who give £10,000 or more will have the chance to attend a private Grub Club event hosted by a Michelin-starred chef.
Grub Club founders Olivia Sibony and Siddarth Vijaya Kumar are hoping to expand internationally, after starting their club in London in 2013.
Their system allows "foodies" to connect with chefs across London, and invites chefs to create their own one-off or temporary menus in unusual city locations, often known as pop-ups.
Users can search by location and date, and find supper clubs and events happening near them. Current examples include a dinner with Argentine wine in the St Pancras Clock Tower, or a four-course Italian meal based on gnocchi, set to held in Clapton.
Dining events can be hosted by any chef from well-known amateurs, to Michelin-starred or Cordon Bleu-trained names, and often focus on giving meals a quirky and communal feel.
The platform also aims to promote new or aspiring restaurateurs looking to bring their ideas to market, and is hoping to add a "recommendation engine" to its website, which will allow users to connect with their preferred chefs and foods.
Early adopters have included food writer James Ramsden and United Ramen founder Aaron Resch.