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The market for third-party distribution platforms is saturated these days, but financial entrepreneur Ashley Lovelace Cunningham thought she could offer something new to the technology distribution space. It’s business he literacy. Cunningham created the Houston-based food delivery app ChewTyme. The app just launched in late 2023 as a free platform aimed at empowering and educating minority business owners.
So far, the app is in beta and there are 14 small restaurant owners on the platform who, in exchange for paying a 17% fee, receive ChewTyme’s last-mile delivery service and Cunningham’s Business Credit. University is available. Guidelines and guidance for entrepreneurs to build good business credit. The goal, Cunningham said, is to help Black and other minority restaurant owners gain an advantage in the often difficult and whitewashed world of business ownership.
“What I noticed is that because of COVID-19, a lot of restaurant owners were closing their doors… because they didn’t have the capital to survive the closures. Then business went down. We no longer have the funds to pay salaries,” she said. she said. “And it all goes back to how you got business credit…. That was the birth of this app. I wanted to create a solid foundation for business owners to really scale and stay in the game.” I started the app as
Cunningham has been in the financial industry for approximately 18 years and has developed credit repair businesses for both individuals and businesses. She has taught financial literacy to everyone from students to adult business owners. Although Cunningham has no experience in restaurants or food service technology, she came up with the idea for ChewTyme from the perspective of a consumer who frequently uses food delivery apps.
ChewTyme was created specifically with small restaurant owners in mind who are struggling to grow their business. The Business University side of the app features a virtual assistant that can help business owners with a step-by-step process of building credibility for their business and provide advice on things like building a modern website, thereby increasing the visibility of their business. (and becomes more viable) to potential lenders. Additionally, ChewTyme provides mentorship and community-building opportunities for its members.
“All of these resources, which typically have a $5,000 fee, are free and give you the opportunity to improve your business credit score and raise capital,” Cunnigham said.
Instead, ChewTyme derives its revenue from a 17% fee, which is still below the market rate of 20% and higher for third-party distribution platforms in the country. On the consumer side, ChewTyme charges a flat shipping fee of $4.95. After businesses spend two years on the app, Cunningham will start charging businesses a $79 monthly fee, which (given the platform’s financial literacy resources) just means business owner members will be more financially secure. It is the time when it is supposed to be.
Most of the few restaurants currently on the platform are local to Houston, including a pizzeria and a New Orleans-style Creole Kitchen.
“I was talking to one of the restaurant owners the other day, and she said the app has saved her a lot of money in fees, and as a result, she’s making more money on deliveries.” said Cunningham. .
Going forward, she hopes to expand as the ChewTyme app finishes its initial beta testing phase and expand outside of the state in the next six to 12 months. Cunnigham has already spoken to stakeholders in Dallas and Austin, as well as Mobile, Alabama, New York City and as far away as Ghana, she said.
Contact Joanna: [email protected]
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