Singapore food discovery startup Burpple lands US$6mil funding

• Funding by Tembusu Partners, SPH Media Fund and Triumph Capital
• 1K F&B owners have also come on board its Burpple for Business service

 
BURPPLE, a digital guide to eating places in Singapore and Kuala Lumpur, said it will receive up to US$6 million in funding (approximately S$8.4 million) from Tembusu Partners, SPH Media Fund and Triumph Capital.
 
Its existing shareholders include Neoteny Labs, Silicon Straits, NUS Technologies Holdings and QuestVC.
 
The new funding will be used to strengthen its market position and expand into other “gourmet capitals” in Asia, Burpple said in a statement.
 
It will use the money to enhance its existing features, introduce complementary dining services, and hire engineers and product development staff as it prepares for a regional rollout, it added.
 
Launched in 2012 by three Singaporeans, Burpple is a mobile app and website that helps users decide where to eat based on recommendations from other food-lovers, as well as Burpple editors.
                               
Burpple said its users have doubled to more than four million over the last 12 months. Earlier this year, it launched an online service to help F&B (food and beverage) owners expand their reach by connecting with Burpple users.
 
“Our mission is to help people enjoy life by finding the perfect places to eat with the people they love,” said cofounder and chief executive officer Dixon Chan (pic).
 
“We are well positioned to match consumers to restaurants as our users are the very ones recommending the joints to other users – this is different from restaurants telling you themselves that they have the best food and that you should give them a try,” he added.
 
More than 1,000 F&B owners have signed up for the Burpple for Business service, which will be further improved using the fresh funds, the startup claimed.
 
Tembusu is a private-equity firm that invests in fast-growing companies, while SPH Media Fund is the venture capital arm of Singapore Press Holdings Ltd. Triumph Capital facilitates transnational investments between Australia and China as well as other Asian markets, Burpple said.
 
“Consumers are always looking for recommendations for the best eating places,” said Tembusu Partners chairman Andy Lim.
 
“Burpple’s unique platform which localises food discovery, has made a name for itself in the few years that it has been in business. We are glad to be able to play a part in their next phase of growth,” he added.
 
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