The Munich startup ORDA has developed an app that allows you to place orders in a restaurant and pay directly. Janis Marquardt, CEO of the startup, tells us exactly how it works and how the founders are doing. The founders were also one of the startups that, until recently, Ruffini House, the city's creative hotspot.
1. Who are you and what do you do? Please introduce yourselves briefly!
We — that is Peter, Chris and I — are in our mid-twenties and met about two years ago in Munich while studying together at the CDTM (Center for Digital Technology and Management) at the TU and LMU. Back then, we often went out to eat during our lunch break and found it annoying to always have to wait forever to get our menu, order, or pay.
Since we ourselves have a background in the catering industry, we thought: “That can’t be true, we have to change that!” — and the idea for ORDA was born. We want to make every guest happy in the restaurant industry. With ORDA, you can easily and conveniently order food and drinks from anywhere in the restaurant and pay directly. The guest is happy because it's quick and convenient. And the restaurateur is happy because they can serve more people at once and increase throughput.
Where there is no competition, there is no market
2. But that's been around for a long time!
Sure, we have competitors. But where there's no competition, there's no market.
3. What has been your biggest challenge so far?
In my opinion, the biggest leap a startup has to make is when the first product actually goes live on-site. From that point on, we had the expectations of both restaurateurs and guests. This balancing act isn't always easy, and it probably won't be in the future either.
From now on we will scale!
4. Let’s get down to business: How is business going?
We're live at ten customer restaurants in Munich, including Kaimug, Ruff's Burger, OhJulia, LeDu, and Café Vorhoelzer. Together with our first partners, we've developed the product and are now at a point where we can run smoothly and scale.
5. What does Munich mean to you?
For us, Munich is the perfect place to start a business. We have a huge network here through our former studies at the CDTM and receive active support from many sources. And honestly, dangling our feet in the Isar or Eisbach after a hard day at work is simply priceless.
6. How will your startup become the next unicorn? Or will we see you soon at Epic Fail Night?
Epic Unicorn, definitely!
7. Pork knuckle or fish on a stick?
Half / Half.
