EatWith Raises $8 Million in Series A Led by Greylock Partners

SAN FRANCISCO, Sept. 18, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- EatWith today announced an $8 million Series A financing round led by Greylock Partners with participation from previous investor Genesis Partners and individual angels. Simon Rothman from Greylock Partners will join the Board of Directors.  With this funding, EatWith will focus on growth, building on the company's strong presence in major metros around the world including Barcelona, Rome, Paris and New York, in addition to fueling expansion in San Francisco.

Watch this video to see what the EatWith experience is all about: http://vimeo.com/105793752.

EatWith's mission is to create a new dining experience that combines the best of both worlds: the social exchange involved in dining with others around a table and the comfort of a casual meal at home. Through EatWith, people can dine in local homes around the world. Diners connect with amazing hosts, share stories with fellow diners and create unforgettable experiences, while enjoying delicious homemade food.  Hosts can open their homes and invite guests inside for a small gathering to drink, eat and converse. Anyone can enjoy this experience whether they are in the city they live in or on vacation.

"Until now, there were only two dining options: to eat at home or eat at a restaurant. Our mission is to change the way people eat, travel and interact with each other by creating a dining experience that brings individuals together over a shared meal," said Guy Michlin, CEO and co-founder of EatWith. "Greylock's support will enable EatWith to expand to more cities around the world."

Co-founded by CEO Guy Michlin and CTO Shemer Schwarz in 2012, EatWith now has more than 500 hosts on the platform who have broken bread with tens of thousands of guests in more than 30 countries and 160 cities worldwide.

"EatWith is building a business that takes advantage of a few significant macro trends: People are becoming more comfortable with the mechanics of the marketplace economy, online technology platforms are making it easier for people to connect offline, and foodie culture has meant more people are actively seeking out unique dining experiences," said Simon Rothman from Greylock Partners. "But the most important drivers of our investment in EatWith are the product and the team. Guy and Shemer have built an incredible platform and going to an EatWith dinner is an unquestionably magical experience."

How It Works

The EatWith community brings passionate hosts and guests together to discover unique social dining experiences only found by connecting on EatWith's platform. For example:

• Tourists visiting Toledo, Spain can eat homemade paella from a backyard grill while experiencing life as a local and getting a behind the scenes look into the culture and the people who live there.
• A San Francisco local can book a six course Sake Summer Supper while getting to know new people in their city.
• Backpackers in Europe can visit a family farm outside of Florence, Italy for a nine course, all-organic meal.

Trust and safety are paramount to the EatWith team. The company has developed processes and tools to ensure guests and hosts alike have a positive experience, including a meticulous set of guidelines that EatWith follows to sign up hosts.  Each home and menu is reviewed and approved by EatWith. Additionally, the community ratings are shared publicly on the EatWith site.

About EatWith
EatWith (www.eatwith.com) combines the social nature of eating out with the comfort of a home-cooked meal. Founded in 2012, EatWith now has more than 500 hosts on the platform who have broken bread with tens of thousands of guests in more than 30 countries and 160 cities worldwide. The company opened new headquarters in San Francisco, and maintains regional offices in Tel Aviv, New York and Barcelona.  The company has received $8 million in funding from Greylock Partners, Genesis Partners, and additional angel investors.

SOURCE EatWith