Driving the Hospitality Industry with BonApp: A Startup Story
Please introduce yourself and your startup BonApp to our readers!
BonApp is not just another startup; its mission is to transform the hospitality industry, making it a more customer-centric, efficient, and stress-free experience for restaurant owners and their customers. BonApp seeks to create more of those moments where people can savour a drink or a meal and escape the busy reality to live dreamy moments with friends and family. The founder, Genevieve Sykes, has a diverse background encompassing psychology, neuroscience, accounting, and nutrition, along with a career in two prestigious big four firms in accounting and forensic consulting, her expertise uniquely positions her to pioneer this innovative venture.
How did you get the idea of BonApp?
Have you ever been to a music festival and found yourself missing out on fantastic performances due to never-ending queues for drinks and food? Or perhaps you’ve been to a restaurant, in a rush, and the slow service left you frustrated? These relatable scenarios served as the spark that ignited the idea behind BonApp. It’s a user-friendly web app that empowers customers to take control of their dining experience, ensuring they enjoy the best possible service.
Why did you decide to start ?
The decision to launch BonApp was fueled by Genevieve’s personal experiences as a customer. She saw an opportunity to create a solution that not only streamlined operations for hospitality businesses but also drastically improved the overall customer experience. To turn this vision into a reality, she delved deep into the world of hospitality management, ensuring BonApp offered flexibility and adaptability to meet the ever-changing needs of the service industry.
What is the vision behind ?
BonApp’s vision is crystal clear: revolutionize the hospitality industry by providing a comprehensive POS system that empowers businesses to boost their revenues, reduce staffing needs, and enhance customer satisfaction. By offering QR code ordering and payment, the web application transforms how customers interact with restaurants, bars, and food trucks, delivering a seamless and highly personalized hospitality experience.
How difficult was the start and which challenges you had to overcome?
The journey of launching a startup is never a smooth ride. While BonApp was fortunate to secure seed funding and assemble a stellar team early on, it still encountered its fair share of hurdles. These included staying on target with feature development, learning the intricacies of the hospitality world, and overcoming skepticism from industry experts about the digitalization of services. Nevertheless, with unwavering determination, resilience, and a clear vision, Genevieve and her team brought BonApp to life, ultimately convincing the hospitality experts of the value of innovation and change.
Who is your target audience?
BonApp’s target audience is impressively diverse, catering to a wide spectrum of businesses within the hospitality industry. From restaurants, bars, and cafes to food trucks, clubs, festivals, business fairs, and hotels, BonApp aims to elevate the customer experience across the board. Whether a small local eatery or a large chain, BonApp has something to offer.
What is the USP of your startup?
What sets BonApp apart is its holistic approach to POS systems for restaurant establishments. With QR code ordering and payment options, comprehensive statistics of customer behaviour, and a user-friendly interface that is intuitive. BonApp provides an all-encompassing solution for businesses looking to thrive in a rapidly evolving hospitality industry. Its ability to help increase sales, reduce staffing requirements, and enhance customer satisfaction truly sets BonApp apart from our competitors.
Can you describe your typical workday ?
In a start-up environment, no day is the same. A typical day for Genevieve encompasses a blend of strategic planning, fine-tuning the sales strategy, inter-team collaboration, constant evaluation of product strategy, and meeting potential customers for product demos. From refining the web application features to exploring new partnership opportunities, each day brings the startup closer to realizing its vision. With partnerships already established, including notable entities such as EHL (Ecole Hôtelière de Lausanne) and HotellerieSuisse, BonApp is experiencing rapid growth.
Where do you see yourself and your startup BonApp in five years?
In five years, BonApp envisions itself as the go-to solution for the entire hospitality industry. With a global presence, serving countless businesses and customers across multiple countries, the company aspires to lead the way in redefining how people dine, order, and enjoy hospitality services. Exclusive features in the pipeline promise to set BonApp apart from other POS systems, making it an exciting prospect for both businesses and customers.
What 3 tips would you give to founders?
Stay Passionate: The entrepreneurial journey can be challenging, but it’s your passion for your idea that will sustain you through the highs and lows. Embrace the adventure and believe in your vision, your team, and your abilities.
Embrace Learning: Continuously expand your knowledge and skills. Adaptability and versatility are essential in the startup world. Be open to refining your ideas to fit the current and future market while staying true to your core goals.
Build a Strong Team: Surround yourself with talented individuals who share your vision and complement your skills. A cohesive, positive, determined, and efficient team is vital for success.
In conclusion, BonApp exemplifies innovation and determination in the startup landscape. With a visionary founder at the helm and a unique solution poised to redefine the hospitality industry, BonApp is primed to make a lasting impact, enhancing dining and entertainment experiences for all. Stay tuned on Instagram and LinkedIn to stay updated with our progress.
Thank you Genevieve Sykes for the Interview
Statements of the author and the interviewee do not necessarily represent the editors and the publisher opinion again.
