28 Mar 2018
Student entrepreneurs need your vote!
Students Matt Pritchard and James Powell-Tuck are hoping to win a national competition with their start-up that allows diners to find restaurants offering discounts in order to fill empty tables – and they need your help!
The pair’s dynamic chatbot system Waffle is competing alongside 41 start-up businesses – that specialise in areas such as artificial intelligence, cyber-security and 3D printing – in Pitch@Palace.
The competition, which was founded in 2014 by the Duke of York, allows the best and brightest from across the UK to showcase their ideas in front of an audience of influential individuals, big businesses and investors.
Matt and James are hoping they will bag the top title with the business idea they co-founded with Julian Bourne, a friend from the University of Sussex in an empty restaurant one afternoon after feeling frustrated about the amount of money they were spending eating out.
Waffle is used within messaging apps and, by working with local restaurants to fill tables during quiet hours, it looks to save users money by finding the best deals with up to 60% off.
The more you use Waffle, the more the chatbot gets to know you; it learns your favourite locations and food preferences so you can receive more personalised offers.
The concept not only helps to combat food waste issues experienced in restaurants, it also supports young homeless people in Brighton. Every time a user takes advantage of Waffle, a contribution is made towards a meal for someone in need.
The shortlisted businesses for Pitch@Palace are automatically entered into a public vote for the best idea, where Waffle is already on the leaderboard.
The students are hoping that with the support of Loughborough University they can secure the ‘People’s Choice Award’.
Matt Pritchard commented: “Winning would really help us take the business to the next level by opening doors to larger and more established chains, so we can secure even better deals for our Wafflers.”
You can vote for Waffle here, the closing date is 25 April.