Beyond the Delivery: iOrders’ Evolution Expanding Across Borders
In this ‘Founder Feature’, we sat down with Rakesh and Dhanesh, co-founders of iOrders, to talk about their journey, and how they’re revolutionizing white label delivery service in the restaurant industry.
About
iOrders is a B2B company designed to support restaurants by enhancing their online presence and streamlining their delivery operations. They provide a white labelled online ordering and delivery as a service, allowing restaurants to manage their own delivery systems without relying on third-party apps. This model enables restaurants to maintain control over customer relationships and data, ensuring that all payments go directly into their own accounts.
iOrders joined Cultivator as part of Cohort 8 in the START program, where they began refining their approach to growth. With steady expansion and dedication, they have progressed to the GROW program, marking a significant step in their journey of making an impact in the tech ecosystem right here in the Prairies.
Milestones that Speak Volumes
Last December, iOrders was a humble operation serving restaurants exclusively in Regina. Fast forward to today, the company has expanded to many different cities across Canada and have recently made their debut in the United States. When discussing their expansion journey, the duo shared that while it initially took two years to working with a limited number of restaurants to fine-tune their products and identify the right product-market fit, they are now surpassing that number every quarter.
“Our goals are changing every quarter based on consumer patterns” said Rakesh Pillai, co-founder of iOrders. As they continue to move their goalpost farther, we are excited to support them in their journey.
Evolving Focus: From White-Label Delivery to a Suite of Solutions
Initially, iOrders focused on providing restaurants with white-label delivery services. However, as they grew, they recognized the need to deliver even greater value. This led them to pivot and develop a broader range of products and services designed to help restaurants increase sales. Along with faster restaurant onboarding, their cutting-edge AI-powered tools enable clients to optimize profitability.
By dedicating significant time to listening to customer feedback, Rakesh and Dhanesh ensured their products meet the evolving needs of their clients. “Taking the time to listen to customers and ensure [the technology] meets their requirements… Customer input really helps us improve the product,” said Dhanesh Udayan, co-founder.
This feedback loop is a critical component of their product development, allowing them to refine technology while planning aggressive sales and marketing efforts to scale faster.
Recognizing sales as the key to their growth, the duo is fully immersing themselves in mastering this domain. Coming from a tech background, both Dhanesh and Rakesh are exploring various methodologies and strategies to scale effectively—and they’re proving to be exceptionally skilled at it.
The Role of Cultivator
Joining Cultivator’s START program marked a significant milestone for iOrders. The program provided a shift in perspective, teaching them to think like a startup – with a focus on long-term growth. Moving into the GROW program further strengthened their connection to Saskatchewan’s entrepreneurial ecosystem, providing them with mentorship, resources and opportunities to collaborate with other innovative startups.
“We got a lot of value out of the mentor connections that Cultivator gave us….We are able to discuss certain strategies..the problems that we face…and get feedback. That is very helpful” said Rakesh Pillai, co-founder of iOrders.
A Bright Road Ahead
What began with two founders and one employee December, 2023, has since grown into a team of seven. This expansion was fuelled by a successful pre-seed funding round, marking a pivotal moment for the bootstrapped company.