Malou, a French restaurant technology firm, has secured over $10 million in a funding round to bolster its expansion efforts both domestically and internationally.
The funding round was spearheaded by investors, including henQ, Bleu Capital, Bertrand Jelensperger, Jim Texier, and several restaurant clients.
Utilizing the recent capital injection, Malou aims to accelerate its expansion within France, improve product functionality, and extend its reach internationally, targeting the Middle East, Europe, and the United States.
henQ partner Mick Mackaay said, “Malou’s team has been able to translate their deep understanding of marketing for restaurants into a ‘hyper-verticalised’ solution which optimises all aspects of a restaurant’s online presence automatically.
“This leads to more visitors without forcing owners to become marketing experts. The team has further impressed us with their ability to get this solution into the hands of many restaurants, a notoriously hard target group to sell to.”
Since 2021, Malou has been providing customized digital marketing solutions exclusively designed for the restaurant industry.
It consolidates the Google page, social media profiles, listings, and delivery platforms of restaurants into a centralized hub.
Leveraging artificial intelligence (AI) and automation, Malou analyzes and generates responses to customer reviews, creates social media posts, and ensures the maintenance of consistent information to elevate the online presence of restaurants.
Presently, the company has enlisted over 2,000 restaurants spanning 12 countries, encompassing independent establishments, food chains, renowned chefs, and high-profile restaurant groups.
Malou co-founder and CEO Louiza Hacene said, “Malou is dedicated to providing the tools to help restaurants connect with potential customers and maintain their relationships with their existing customers and this new funding will allow us to further improve our product, expand our team and increase our market reach, especially in the US.”