This week’s #BusinessSpotlight is on George Christoforakis, co-founder of rendeevoo, who last joined us for dinner when we had the pleasure of Peter Briffett, COO of Yplan speaking on how to succeed in the lifestyle/entertainment sector. As an exciting new startup, rendeevoo had us with their slogan:

You. Me. Drinks. Now

Find out more about rendevoo and what spurred George on to build a business that sets itself apart from other ‘dating’ apps.

What’s the elevator pitch for your business?
Discover London’s finest spots with someone new. Because there’s nothing better than a REAL conversation!

What were you doing before you launched your company?
I was in a West-London social enterprise, called C.I.T.A.S., as a digital strategist. It was an amazing experience that widened my horizons and made me truly believe in social responsibility and its role in any commercial entity; not just non-profits.

If you have co-founders, where did you meet them?
I met Jorn Vanysacker in Birmingham, back in 2009. It was during our MSc studies in Aston Business School, and since then we have been exchanging views frequently. It was only natural to call him three years later and discuss the concept that evolved into rendeevoo.

When was your ‘eureka’ moment for your business?
Back in 2012, I had broken my leg and was hospitalised for nearly three months. During those days, I discovered what Online Dating was all about. Soon after a few sessions I realised that something’s odd with their business models. It didn’t make sense to me for a website to monetize the need instead of the result, given that any user who signs up on those sites is after a real-life meeting with new people. So, why not offer a more transparent way for people to socialise while at the same time shortening the “search & plan” steps?

What will the rest of 2016 bring?
In a nutshell, 2016 is the year when rendeevoo will either “make it or break it”. Our MVP has been validated and we are about to release a big update that behaves better and faster. We have also partnered up with a handful of lovely cocktail bars and cafes, increasing our network size to 30 handpicked venues around central locations in London. We want to end 2016 with an established presence in London and a growing reputation in Paris and Madrid that are our next targeted cities to enter in 2017.

One piece of advice for someone starting a business in your sector?
Bringing people together is a wonderful business to be in. With it however, comes a great deal of responsibility. Place safety and confidentiality high in your agenda from day one. Also, have a clear monetisation strategy in place otherwise your value will always be subjective and therefore vulnerable. Focus on generating revenue, and ideally building a sustainable business that doesn’t rely purely on external funding to survive and thrive.

Convince someone to use your product/service in under 50 words.
In a market dominated by messaging platforms, rendeevoo stands out by offering a service where two people can meet at a handpicked place without texting, but by simply purchasing their first drink in the app to confirm their rendeevoo.

What’s your favourite startup in your sector (not including your own)?
Even though we operate within the dating market, I don’t consider rendeevoo as a dating startup per se. My favourite startup that shares similar value proposition with us, is Drinki. I love their branding and of course their incredibly sleek UI! If you love visiting cocktail bars, you will love what Drinki has to offer!

What’s your favourite London restaurant?
By far Hawksmoor in Shoreditch. Everything and everyone in there is top-notch. Great service standards, superb food quality, and amazing atmosphere.

What’s your favourite meal?
You can have my soul if you treat me to a nicely grilled burger (cliché, I know!)
To find out more about rendevoo – take a look at their video with Global Dating Insights where George talks about his philosophies towards online dating, the new trend of on-demand dating apps, and how startups can push innovation in the dating industry.

Find more of our #BusinessSpotlights here. If you’d like your business featured on our blog, email hello@tablecrowd.com with the subject title: I want to be a #BusinessSpotlight!