How Nowait modernized the restaurant waitlist (and sold to Yelp for $40M)
I hate when I go to restaurants and I get one of those little plastic things that vibrates when my table is ready. I hate them because they don’t fit in my pocket, and I have to stand outside like a schmuck holding this thing in my hand.
So when I heard that someone allowed restaurant goers like me to get a text when their spot was available I installed the app and I’ve had it on my phone ever since.
Today I’m excited to get to know the guy behind the company because it is way bigger than just the app. Robb Myer is the founder of Nowait which allows restaurants to manage the way that they interact with customers who want to get a seat at their restaurant.
Nowait was actually sold to Yelp not long ago. We’ll find out how Robb came up with the idea, evolved it, and why the company was sold to Yelp.
Robb Myer is the founder of Nowait which allows restaurants to manage the way that they interact with customers who want to get a seat at their restaurant.
Andrew: Hey everyone, my name is Andrew Warner. I’m the founder of Mixergy, where I interview entrepreneurs about how they built their businesses. And I don’t remember how long ago it was that installed today’s guest’s app on my phone. But I do remember the feeling that got me to install the app.
I hate when I go to restaurants, and they give you those little plastic things that are supposed to vibrate and glow or something whenever my seat’s ready for me. I hate them because they don’t fit in my pocket, and I have to stand outside like a schmuck holding this thing in my hand. I hate them because they remind me of being a high school kid traveling to Manhattan, getting to go to T.G.I Friday’s and thinking that just waiting in line for T.G.I. Friday’s was such a fun event that I would be willing to carry those plastic things.
And so when I heard that someone modernized it and actually did away with all that, and...
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