Kyiv, Ukraine · StartupOverview: Allset is a food-tech startup that provides a platform for online restaurant ordering and pickup. Originally launched as a dine-in pre-ordering app, Allset allows customers to pre-order meals at restaurants so that the food is ready at a scheduled time and they can "skip the line". Over time, Allset expanded to enable standard takeout orders, curbside pickups, and even contactless dine-in where you arrive and your meal is served immediately. The convenience factor is central: Allset's app lets users browse menus of partner restaurants, pay in advance (including tip), and streamline the eating experience without waiting. For restaurants, Allset offers a marketplace to attract busy professionals and on-the-go diners, while avoiding the high fees of delivery services. By focusing on pickup and in-restaurant efficiency, Allset positioned itself as a lower-cost alternative to delivery apps for eateries, promising no couriers or delivery logistics - just seamless pickup transactions. As of 2021, Allset had thousands of restaurant partners, particularly in major U.S. cities, and had broadened its use-case to also support contactless dining during the COVID-19 pandemic. Founding Story (2015): Allset was founded in 2015 by two Ukrainians, Stas Matviyenko (Stan) and Anna Polishchuk, who moved to California to grow the business. The founders previously built a mobile payments startup in Ukraine (Settle), which gave them insight into restaurant payment pain points. They noticed that busy professionals often have limited lunch break time and that waiting for service at restaurants ate up much of it. Thus, Allset was conceived to let users pre-order and pre-pay for meals so they could "set" everything in advance and have all set when they arrive (hence the name). The concept started with a few restaurants in San Francisco and New York participating. Early growth was modest as it required signing up restaurants one-by-one and changing consumer habits. However, by offering a win-win - restaurants get more turnover at lunch with guaranteed orders, customers get time savings - Allset steadily gained traction. Matviyenko and Polishchuk leveraged their Ukrainian tech team to build the app cost-effectively. In 2016, they got into the 500 Startups accelerator, which provided seed funding and mentorship in Silicon Valley. By 2017-2018, Allset expanded to multiple U.S. cities and refined its model to also include standard takeout ordering. Product and Market: Allset's target users were urban professionals and corporate employees looking for efficient lunch options. It integrated with over 7,000 restaurants in the U.S. and also some in Ukraine by 2023. Cuisine-wise it was diverse - from fast-casual chains to local eateries. The platform's business model charges restaurants a commission per order, but it touted itself as having significantly lower fees than delivery apps like UberEats or DoorDash. This is because pickup orders do not involve logistics costs. Allset also at times charged consumers small convenience fees or offered a subscription for zero fees. Its competition includes not just the big delivery apps, but also restaurant reservation systems and point-of-sale providers who have added mobile ordering. However, Allset carved a niche in "order ahead for dine-in/pickup." During COVID-19, Allset quickly shifted focus to contactless pickup and curbside service, which aligned with public health needs. The app usage grew as more consumers opted for takeout and avoiding crowds. Post-pandemic, Allset continued to be relevant as many users, accustomed to mobile ordering, kept using it for efficiency. Traction: By the early 2020s, Allset had facilitated tens of millions of orders. It was particularly popular in cities like New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, and Houston. The app had over 2 million users and a strong repeat usage among its core demographic (e.g., office workers who would use it daily for lunch). Allset's restaurant network grew to include national chains as well as local favorites. A reported figure from around 2021 indicated nearly 7,000 restaurant partners across the US and Ukraine, illustrating its significant network. Partnerships with large chains (for example, they onboarded Panera Bread in some regions) helped validate the concept. In terms of scale, Allset's gross merchandise volume (the total value of orders through the platform) reached eight figures in USD annually. Press coverage often highlighted Allset as a rising star in the on-demand dining space, and it received awards like being listed in Forbes' 30 Under 30 (Matviyenko was honored in 2018). Funding and Investors: Allset attracted a mix of Silicon Valley and Ukrainian investors through its journey. Early on, it raised a $3.35M combined seed (including a $1M pre-seed from SMRK, a Ukrainian VC). In 2018, Allset secured an $8.25M Series A, with investors like Greycroft, Andreessen Horowitz (a16z), VK (Digital Garage), and SMRK participating. This round helped fuel its expansion to new cities. By 2020, Allset had raised a total of about $16.6M in funding. A notable investor, Andreessen Horowitz, gave credibility given their prominence. Additionally, the EBRD (European Bank for Reconstruction and Development) co-invested in Allset, a nod to its Ukrainian roots and growth potential. The company was relatively capital-efficient, using a distributed team in Kyiv for development while its sales team signed restaurants in the U.S. According to PitchBook, Allset's valuation was healthy, though it never reached unicorn status. Acquisition by SoundHound (2024): A major milestone came in June 2024, when SoundHound AI, a Nasdaq-listed voice AI company, announced it had acquired Allset. The deal amount was undisclosed, but it marked a successful exit for the founders and investors. SoundHound's interest was in combining Allset's marketplace and restaurant partnerships with SoundHound's voice assistant tech for ordering (they have a voice ordering system used by restaurants). Through this acquisition, Allset's team (Matviyenko and Polishchuk) and technology joined SoundHound, aiming to power voice-enabled food ordering across SoundHound's large client network. The acquisition can be seen as a strategic fit: Allset brings the restaurant relationships and order workflow, while SoundHound brings cutting-edge voice AI. Allset's co-founders took on roles within SoundHound's leadership to continue growing this combined vision. For the Ukrainian startup scene, Allset's acquisition was a proud moment - a startup founded by Ukrainians achieved a notable exit on the global stage. Achievements and Impact: Allset's journey demonstrated the strength of Ukrainian entrepreneurs in the global arena of food tech. The company managed to enter the ultra-competitive U.S. food app market and carve a space for itself. It was recognized as one of Ukraine's top startups in multiple rankings. The company's growth also had a direct impact: it provided business to restaurants (especially small ones) by bringing them customers who might not have come in otherwise. Its focus on reducing wait times resonated with modern consumers' demand for convenience. Notably, Allset survived and adapted through the pandemic - offering features like dine-in ordering via QR code to minimize contact. This nimbleness likely made it an attractive acquisition target. Allset also set an example of transatlantic collaboration: R&D in Ukraine, business development in the U.S., which is a model other Ukrainian startups have since followed. Post-acquisition, the Allset app and brand continue to operate, now with the backing of SoundHound. With voice technology integration, a future use case might be ordering meals by simply speaking to your car or smart device, which could be the next level of convenience Allset helps enable. For Anna Polishchuk and Stas Matviyenko, their success with Allset has cemented them as influential figures in Ukraine's startup community, often mentoring younger founders and investing in new startups. Sources: vestbee.com, kyivpost.com, vcnewsdaily.com.
StartupGrowthFoodTechMarketplaceHospitalityMobile
Kyiv, Ukraine · StartupOverview: BetterMe is a health and wellness tech company that offers a suite of mobile apps focused on fitness, nutrition, and mental well-being. It provides users with personalized workout plans, meal plans, and lifestyle advice to help them lose weight, get fit, or improve their overall health. BetterMe's flagship app, often just called "BetterMe: Health Coaching," includes features such as short video workouts, diet tracking, and educational content. The company also launched a BetterMe: Mental Health app for meditation and stress reduction, reflecting a holistic approach to wellness. Uniquely, BetterMe tailors its programs to individuals using quizzes and data, making the experience feel custom - for example, a user can indicate their goals and preferences and receive a workout routine and diet plan suited to them. The apps are gamified and use a lot of motivational psychology (for instance, sending encouraging notifications, or featuring success stories) to keep users engaged. BetterMe operates on a freemium model: users can access some content for free but need a subscription to unlock full personalized plans and coaching. With an affordable subscription, it undercuts many traditional weight loss programs, contributing to its massive global user adoption. Founding Story (2016/2017): BetterMe was founded in 2017 in Kyiv, Ukraine by Viktoria Repa, a young woman from a family that struggled with obesity. Viktoria's personal journey - she managed to lose weight despite being told it was hopeless - inspired her to help others do the same using smartphone technology. She joined Genesis, a Ukrainian tech incubator, where she developed the idea for BetterMe. With an initial $5 million support from Genesis Investments to kickstart the project, BetterMe launched its first product focusing on exercise plans. Early traction came via viral content on social media; Viktoria's team leveraged platforms like Facebook and Instagram to attract users with catchy fitness challenges and transformation stories. By late 2017, BetterMe's app reached the top charts in the Health and Fitness category on the App Store in multiple countries. The company smartly expanded into adjacent categories: adding a meal planning app, then merging them into one comprehensive platform. Repa, as a first-time founder, was notable for bootstrapping growth (outside of the initial Genesis funding) - she reinvested revenue from the app back into marketing rather than seeking huge VC rounds. This lean approach allowed BetterMe to scale rapidly without dilution or external pressure, and by focusing on revenue early, it achieved profitability within a couple of years. Product and Target Market: BetterMe's target market is primarily women aged 25-45 worldwide looking to improve fitness or lose weight, though it has users of all genders and ages. The app's content covers home workouts (no equipment needed routines, HIIT, yoga, etc.), diet (with thousands of recipes and even grocery lists), and mental health (meditation, self-love coaching). By bundling these, BetterMe positions itself as an all-in-one "personal coach in your pocket." The product stands out for localization - it offers content in multiple languages and adapts to cultural preferences (for example, meal plans will consider local cuisines). The company also sells BetterMe-branded sportswear and merchandise, tapping into the aspirational lifestyle brand angle. One of BetterMe's innovations was leveraging viral marketing: its social media team produced simple before-and-after animations and relatable memes that drew tens of millions of views. This organic reach translated into app installs at low cost. The app itself capitalized on trends like short 7-minute workouts and challenges (e.g., 28-day weight loss challenge), which kept users engaged daily. With the onset of COVID-19 in 2020, BetterMe saw a surge as people turned to home fitness solutions, and the company responded by launching live workout sessions and more mental health resources. Traction and Users: BetterMe's growth has been explosive. As of 2022, BetterMe had over 110 million users worldwide - an astonishing figure that outpaced many competitors like Strava or Headspace in raw user count. The app consistently ranks among the top health and fitness apps in the U.S., Europe, and developing markets. The company achieved $80 million in annual revenue by 2022, all while remaining profitable. This revenue is largely subscription-driven, demonstrating a strong conversion of free users to paid plans. BetterMe's user base is global: major markets include the U.S. (which often accounts for 30-40% of revenue), Europe, Latin America, and also parts of Asia where affordable fitness coaching is in demand. The app has high ratings on app stores and has been downloaded well over 150 million times cumulatively. BetterMe's team grew to around 200 people by 2022, scaling to support content creation (new exercises, recipes, etc.), customer support, and continuous app development. An important aspect of BetterMe's traction is retention - many users report that the combination of physical and mental health guidance in one place keeps them using it long-term, as opposed to fad diet apps that get uninstalled. Funding and Business Model: Interestingly, BetterMe has been largely bootstrapped after the initial funding. Founder Viktoria Repa raised about $5M from Genesis (which is more of an internal investment from the incubator) and did not seek major external VC rounds afterwards. She cited the relatively underdeveloped VC landscape in Ukraine as one reason, but also the fact that BetterMe was generating enough cash to fuel its growth organically. By avoiding dilution, Repa retained control and the company focused on sustainable growth. The business model is straightforward: subscription revenue from the apps (monthly or annual plans) and some e-commerce sales of merchandise. With tens of millions of users, even a small percentage subscribing translated to substantial income. By 2023, the company was reportedly exploring opportunities for external funding or strategic partnerships to develop new products (like potentially telehealth or personalized coaching services). If it were to raise funds, given its scale and profitability, BetterMe could likely command a very high valuation (some industry observers speculated it could be Ukraine's next unicorn). Achievements and Recognition: BetterMe's success has brought significant recognition. Viktoria Repa, as a young female CEO, was featured in Forbes 30 Under 30 Europe in 2019. Sifted.eu (FT's tech publication) ran a story on how she built a global health app from Ukraine with $80M revenue in 5 years. BetterMe's apps frequently top the "most downloaded" charts, and in 2021 Apple highlighted BetterMe in its App Store success stories. Another achievement: during the war in Ukraine, BetterMe made its apps free for all Ukrainian users to help people cope with stress and stay healthy at home. The company donated a portion of its profits to the Ukrainian army and charities, and even released Ukraine flag-themed workout gear to raise funds. This stance boosted its image as a socially responsible brand. BetterMe also claims that it has helped millions of people collectively lose over 1,000,000 kilograms of weight (per internal metrics), showcasing real-world impact. User testimonials often mention life-changing health improvements, which BetterMe uses (with permission) in its marketing. The company's next milestones include expanding into more holistic healthcare - possibly adding features like consultations with trainers or nutritionists, and integrating wearable data for more personalization. Overall, BetterMe illustrates how a Ukrainian startup identified a massive global need - accessible health improvement - and executed with digital savvy to become one of the world's most popular wellness platforms. It stands as a symbol of Ukraine's emerging strength in consumer tech and the power of combining tech with personal passion to solve widespread problems. Sources: sifted.eu.
StartupGrowthHealthWellnessMobileSubscription
Vienna, Austria · StartupRetail investing platform offering cryptocurrencies, stocks, ETFs, and precious metals with fractional trades.
StartupGrowthFintechInvesting
Amsterdam, Netherlands · StartupMobile-first bank that lets individuals and businesses control accounts, cards, and payments.
StartupGrowthFintechBanking
Copenhagen, Denmark · StartupChainalysis was co-founded in 2014 by Danish entrepreneur Michael Gronager to bring transparency to crypto markets. The company builds blockchain analytics software used by exchanges, regulators, and law enforcement to trace illicit activity and manage compliance risk. Chainalysis grew into a global leader in crypto intelligence, raised major rounds, and built offices worldwide while keeping a Danish engineering footprint. It is one of the most valuable companies with Danish founding roots in the blockchain sector.
StartupGrowthBlockchainComplianceFintech
Copenhagen, Denmark · StartupDixa is a Danish customer engagement platform that unifies phone, email, chat, and messaging into one support workspace. Founded in 2015, Dixa emphasizes a relationship driven approach called Customer Friendship and helps digital first brands manage omnichannel support at scale. The company expanded across Europe and the United States, raised large funding rounds, and acquired knowledge base and conversational AI products to broaden its suite. Dixa is a notable Copenhagen based SaaS scale up.
StartupGrowthCustomer ExperienceSaaS