DripApp

DripApp was a London-based mobile application company founded in 2014 by Jeremy Cortial and Ruben Grigri. The venture was born from the founders' shared appreciation for independent coffee shops and an observation that major chains were leveraging mobile technology for a significant portion of their sales. Grigri, with a background in finance, and Cortial, who had experience in toy exporting, aimed to create a platform that would empower smaller, independent coffee retailers. The company operated on a dual-value proposition model, targeting both coffee consumers and independent cafés in London.

For consumers, DripApp functioned as a discovery and payment tool, likened to an "Oyster card for London's best cafes". Users could purchase prepaid coffee plans or a monthly subscription, which allowed them to redeem drinks at discounted prices across a network of participating shops. The app featured various plans, such as the 'original' for basic drinks and 'fancy' for milk-based beverages, as well as an unlimited monthly subscription. This model offered customers convenience and savings of up to 50%. A location-based map helped users find nearby participating independent cafés, encouraging exploration and discovery.

For businesses, DripApp provided marketing tools and access to a broader customer base, helping them compete with the scale and resources of large coffee chains. The platform aggregated independent shops, giving them collective visibility and a way to attract new patrons. By early 2016, the app had enlisted over 120 independent coffee bars in London. The company secured $153,000 in an Angel funding round in 2015, which was supported by the FFWD London accelerator. However, the business faced significant challenges when a subsequent funding offer of £500,000 was withdrawn, a decision reportedly influenced by the economic uncertainty following Brexit. This led to the company ceasing its coffee service operations and ultimately resulted in its acquisition by Swipii, a digital loyalty and marketing firm, in December 2016.

Keywords: DripApp, mobile coffee subscription, London coffee app, independent coffee shops, prepaid coffee, coffee discovery app, Jeremy Cortial, Ruben Grigri, food tech, hospitality tech, customer loyalty app, coffee payment, café network, digital loyalty, Swipii acquisition, FFWD London, mobile ordering, beverage app, coffee discounts, coffee marketplace