Dealfind

About Dealfind

Dealfind was a Canadian e-commerce company that operated in the online group-buying market, a sector that gained significant traction in the early 2010s. Founded in May 2010 by Gary Lipovetsky and Michael Tulman, the Toronto-based firm was launched as an extension of MenuPalace.com, an online restaurant directory the pair had started in 1999. The founders leveraged their experience in local online advertising to capitalize on the burgeoning daily deal trend.

The company's business model was centered on offering daily discounts of 50 to 90 percent on a wide array of local services and products. This included deals for restaurants, spas, travel, electronics, and housewares. Dealfind acted as a marketing platform for small and medium-sized businesses, providing them with a way to attract new customers by offering deeply discounted vouchers. Revenue was generated by taking a percentage of the voucher's sale price from the participating merchants. The platform served consumers looking for value and local businesses seeking increased exposure and customer traffic.

Dealfind experienced rapid initial growth, and by May 2011, it had secured a significant $31 million investment from venture capital firms including Insight Venture Partners, Georgian Partners, and the Ontario Venture Capital Fund. At its peak, the company expanded its operations to over 100 cities across Canada and the United States, employing more than 300 people. In January 2013, Dealfind merged with its Canadian rival, Teambuy.ca, in a major consolidation within the North American daily deal industry. Following the merger, Dealfind's founders, Lipovetsky and Tulman, exited the venture. The combined entity, however, faced significant challenges, including numerous customer and merchant complaints regarding service and payments. By August 2014, the parent company, Couch Commerce Inc., filed for bankruptcy protection with substantial liabilities, leading to the cessation of honoring vouchers and the eventual sale of its assets to the U.S.-based nCrowd Commerce Inc.