PayDragon (YC S11) raises $1.35M so hungry people can skip lines • Hacker News Board

Re: PayDragon (YC S11) raises $1.35M so hungry people can skip lines

#31

Post by vwoolf » Fri, Jul 27, 2012, 10:37 PM UTC

I just downloaded the PayDragon app, and the "Discover" feature is one of the more intriguing aspects. I regularly look for interesting, convenient food, and aside from walk-bys, it's not all that easy to find in my neighborhood.

EDIT: In Manhattan, however, PayDragon only has one restaurant in the "Discover" category right now—it's Murray's Cheese, which might be delightful, but it's also somewhat far and not especially appealing.

Re: PayDragon (YC S11) raises $1.35M so hungry people can skip lines

#32

Post by ars » Fri, Jul 27, 2012, 10:45 PM UTC

andrewhyde wrote: post #25

And if everyone uses it, there will be lines. Of hungry people.

The idea is the computer will wait in line, not the person.

i.e. you still have to wait for the food to be ready, you just don't have to do it in person.

Re: PayDragon (YC S11) raises $1.35M so hungry people can skip lines

#33

Post by dmazin » Fri, Jul 27, 2012, 11:22 PM UTC

kurtvarner wrote: post #3

> The round included Rustic Canyon Ventures, Ron Conway’s SV Angel, Yuri Milner, Mark Schwartz, and a follow-on investment by Y Combinator. A follow-on investment from YC? I wasn't aware that they do follow-ons.

I thought YC specifically did not do follow-on investments because of (paraphrase) what it'd indicate about the companies they don't follow-on with.

Re: PayDragon (YC S11) raises $1.35M so hungry people can skip lines

#34

Post by hamiltonchan » Sat, Jul 28, 2012, 12:02 AM UTC

kurtvarner wrote: post #3

> The round included Rustic Canyon Ventures, Ron Conway’s SV Angel, Yuri Milner, Mark Schwartz, and a follow-on investment by Y Combinator. A follow-on investment from YC? I wasn't aware that they do follow-ons.

There was a mistake in the article. The additional investment was from SV Angel and Yuri Milner, not Y Combinator. We apologize for the confusion, and the mistake has been corrected.

Re: PayDragon (YC S11) raises $1.35M so hungry people can skip lines

#35

Post by unabridged » Sat, Jul 28, 2012, 12:23 AM UTC

I'm still waiting for major fast food companies to start making their own ordering apps like this. No having to explain complicated orders through an intercom. No having to wait in long drive through lines.

Re: PayDragon (YC S11) raises $1.35M so hungry people can skip lines

#36

Post by 6ren » Sat, Jul 28, 2012, 12:32 AM UTC

tatsuke95 wrote: post #8

sachingulaya wrote: post #5

Earlier quoted context omitted.

You order on your phone, you wait, you pick up your food. If people don't order in advance then they stand in line. Its a long overdue concept. Being able to have my order ready without waiting would make me far more likely to eat out.

> "Its a long overdue concept. Being able to have my order ready without waiting would make me far more likely to eat out." Maybe I'm missing something, but I've been placing orders online for years. Order, go pick it up (or even have it delivered!). Obviously the app could simplify that by having all my restaurants there in one place, but I'm not sure the "concept" is new.

I think a difference is you pay when you order. This means less risk for the merchant (also, a slightly faster pickup).

Re: PayDragon (YC S11) raises $1.35M so hungry people can skip lines

#37

Post by ippisl » Sat, Jul 28, 2012, 2:32 AM UTC

unabridged wrote: post #35

I'm still waiting for major fast food companies to start making their own ordering apps like this. No having to explain complicated orders through an intercom. No having to wait in long drive through lines.

Mcdonnalds in europe has installed touch screens you can order from.

Re: PayDragon (YC S11) raises $1.35M so hungry people can skip lines

#38

Post by iiilx » Sat, Jul 28, 2012, 6:50 AM UTC

I think they're competing with at least one company who is pretty far ahead in the market like gopago. Their presence seems pretty big in SF at least...I've used it in SF a few times and it's pretty convenient.

Re: PayDragon (YC S11) raises $1.35M so hungry people can skip lines

#39

Post by StavrosK » Sat, Jul 28, 2012, 10:28 AM UTC

This app would, for example, never happen in Greece. Every fast food/street food shop here delivers, and I would be surprised if any restaurant denied phone orders.

The norm here is that you order by phone and your food gets delivered, nobody waits for food.

Re: PayDragon (YC S11) raises $1.35M so hungry people can skip lines

#40

Post by lgeek » Sat, Jul 28, 2012, 3:39 PM UTC

tatsuke95 wrote: post #8

sachingulaya wrote: post #5

Earlier quoted context omitted.

You order on your phone, you wait, you pick up your food. If people don't order in advance then they stand in line. Its a long overdue concept. Being able to have my order ready without waiting would make me far more likely to eat out.

> "Its a long overdue concept. Being able to have my order ready without waiting would make me far more likely to eat out." Maybe I'm missing something, but I've been placing orders online for years. Order, go pick it up (or even have it delivered!). Obviously the app could simplify that by having all my restaurants there in one place, but I'm not sure the "concept" is new.

There are plenty of websites to order take-away (from multiple restaurants) in the UK:

http://hungryhouse.co.uk/ (with iPhone app) http://www.just-eat.co.uk/ http://eatstudent.co.uk/ http://www.eatitnow.co.uk/ (with iPhone app)

All support online payments when you order.