Slerp

About Slerp

Slerp positions itself as a specialized e-commerce and direct-to-consumer platform built for the hospitality industry, enabling businesses to take control of their online sales channels. The company was founded in 2016 by JP Then, who also co-founded the popular London-based doughnut and coffee chain, Crosstown. Then's firsthand experience with the limitations of third-party delivery marketplaces, particularly the lack of control over customer data and brand experience, directly inspired Slerp's creation. He sought to develop a solution that would empower hospitality brands to manage their online operations more effectively, moving away from a dependency on aggregators.

The business offers a comprehensive suite of software-as-a-service (SaaS) tools tailored for food and beverage operators, from restaurants and cafes to hotels and breweries. Slerp's platform facilitates various ordering types, including on-demand delivery, click-and-collect, pre-orders for nationwide shipping, and even catering management. A key component of its offering is the integration of logistics, with the company handling courier deliveries, reconciliations, and live customer support. This allows businesses to offer a seamless branded ordering experience through their own websites and dedicated mobile apps. Beyond just order processing, the platform provides valuable tools such as customer relationship management (CRM), loyalty program creation, and analytics, which help businesses understand customer behavior and personalize marketing efforts.

Slerp's business model is primarily subscription-based, supplemented by a commission on order value, which is positioned as being significantly lower than major third-party delivery platforms. The company targets a wide range of clients, from small independent operators to large, multi-site enterprises like Itsu, Pizza East, and Ottolenghi. By launching at the end of 2019, Slerp was well-timed to assist the hospitality sector's pivot to online models during the subsequent global lockdowns. The company has secured significant investment to fuel its growth, including a $10 million Series A round in May 2021, co-led by Eight Roads Ventures and Jigsaw VC, which followed a $2.8 million seed round earlier that year.