Community
8 March, 2022
Connecting chefs, cooks, and caterers with diners without leaving home
THIS week, Cairns culinarian app recruitment start-up Gathar won the Women in Regional Business category of the Innovate with nbn™ Grants Program.
Gathar, launched in 2018, is an app that connects dining customers with cooks, chefs, caterers, and grazing stylists to come to homes, offices, or holiday rentals.
The app is experiencing its highest level of demand since launching and has served experiences to more than 15,000 diners, with more than 150 independent small business partners servicing 24 mostly regional locations nationally.
Gathar owner Jodie Mlikota said the idea for the app – came from a frustration most have experienced.
“We loved having friends over for dinner but didn’t like being stuck in the kitchen all night,” Ms Mlikota said.
“Gathar was created from the idea of being able to book someone who loves to cook and can come over and take over all the hard work for us.
“It enables hundreds of small businesses, independent chefs, cooks, catering companies, and accommodation partners in these regional locations to scale their businesses too.”
Gathar has proven most popular in top holiday locations, including Port Douglas, Byron Bay, Hunter Valley and Victoria’s Mornington Peninsula.
As the Innovate with nbn™ Grants Program WIRB Category winner, Gathar received $10,000 to help continue scaling the business and double its present capacity.
Category winners, selected from seven categories in Arts, Health, Education, Agriculture, Tourism, Women in Business and Indigenous Business, received $10,000 while the overall winner won an additional $25,000 in prize money.
nbn Chief Development Officer Regional and Remote Gavin Williams said the program aimed to recognise and celebrate regional businesses overcoming challenges with innovation, connectivity and networking within their communities.
“It is exciting to see how regional pioneers develop innovative digital tools to drive productivity and outcomes for regional Australians,” Mr Williams said.
“We are delighted to help their digital projects reach the next milestone.
“I will watch with great anticipation and enthusiasm how our winners and their projects continue to grow, evolve, develop and thrive. nbn is proud to be a part of their business journey.”
Chief Executive Officer of the Innovate with nbn™ Grants Program partner Regional Australia Institute Liz Ritchie said it was great to see the innovation from businesses across regional and remote Australia.
“The Regional Australia Institute was delighted to be involved with the Innovate with nbn™ Grants Program again,” she said.
“The quality of this year’s applicants, finalists and winners was excellent, and a demonstration of what can be achieved in regional Australia with quality connectivity.”
