Restopolitan

Restopolitan, founded in December 2006 by Stéphanie Pelaprat, initially entered the market as a software and online reservation service for restaurants. Coming from a family of restaurateurs, Pelaprat graduated from the ESCE business school and was inspired by the American service Open Table to create a similar model in France. The company secured its first funding through startup competitions and later, in 2010, raised €1 million from a pool of prominent French investors, including Xavier Niel, Marc Simoncini, and Jacques-Antoine Granjon.

A significant pivot in 2011 transformed the company's business model. Facing financial challenges, Pelaprat redirected the firm's focus from a B2B software provider to a B2C subscription service with the launch of the Restopolitan membership card. This strategic shift proved successful, generating one million euros in revenue within its second year. The business model centers on a monthly, no-commitment subscription that offers members one free meal (typically a starter and main course, or main and dessert) for each reservation made through the platform, provided they are dining with at least one other person. The offer is valid for one use per restaurant per month, and beverages are excluded.

The company's revenue is generated through these individual subscriptions as well as corporate partnerships. Restopolitan provides its services to businesses as a tool to reduce expense accounts and as a loyalty incentive for employees, with options for co-branded cards. The service includes an in-house concierge available seven days a week to assist with restaurant selection and booking. For restaurant partners, the platform serves as a marketing tool to increase customer traffic without devaluing their brand through percentage-based discounts or commission fees. The company has expanded its operations internationally, launching in Luxembourg in 2012, Spain in 2014, and Italy in 2017, partly through the acquisition of the Italian site MiSiedo.

Keywords: restaurant subscription, dining club, restaurant booking, meal offer, Stéphanie Pelaprat, restaurant discovery, B2C subscription, corporate dining, employee benefits, restaurant loyalty, food tech, online reservation platform, concierge service, European dining, SaaS, restaurant marketing, MiSiedo acquisition, Xavier Niel, Marc Simoncini, Jacques-Antoine Granjon