77. Q App

Founders: Serge Taborin and Tim Bichara
Founded: December 2012 (Launched June 2013)
Website: www.qappmobile.com

After standing at one too many crowded bars, trying in vain to get the overworked bar staff’s attention, founders of Startups 100 2014 featured Q App, Serge Taborin and Tim Bichara, decided there must be a better way.

Their solution is an app that allows its users to avoid queues by ordering and paying for drinks via their smartphone, and collecting them at the bar when they receive a notification that the drinks are ready for collection. The bar benefits from increased revenue, throughput and guest retention – and Q App takes a commission and also monetises with advertising, and a recently launched data analytics service to help venues spot trends.

The platform has already been adopted by around 45,000 users and 30 venues including some of the UK’s most prestigious establishments and chains, such as The Royal Albert Hall, Liverpool Football Club and Mecca Bingo, which has more than 90 venues nationwide. The entrepreneurs hope to follow this success by accelerating their product distribution over the next year, targeting key venues and major chains to supercharge growth.