The hospitality industry’s professional networking platform, Clipboard has launched equity crowdfunding campaign with Birchal to transform the fragmented sector through supporting product innovation, enhancing customer experience and Southeast Asia expansion.
Clipboard, a free professional networking platform for the hospitality industry, has announced it will seek to raise its next round of funding via equity crowdfunding platform Birchal.
Why is Clipboard crowdfunding on Birchal?
The funding is to power Clipboard’s vision to transform the way the fragmented hospitality industry connects, shares experiences, markets and recruits.
With over 24,000 hospitality professionals and 5200 businesses, Clipboard has firmly established itself as an industry leader within the $8tn global hospitality and tourism sector.
Clipboard connects industry professionals with the sector’s full supply chain, including wholesalers, suppliers, businesses and venues with its hospitality network and ecosystem.
The Melbourne startup has some of Australia’s most renowned hospitality establishments onboard its platform, with customers including Ovolo Hotels, Quest Apartments, Prahran Market, The George Hotel and The Osborne Hotel.
Clipboard’s AI-driven offering aims to valuably impact and influence the hospitality community as it continues to bear the brunt of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The company has teamed up with former Olympian and one of Australia’s leading experts on corporate health and wellness Steph Prem, to develop the Clipboard Wellness Program.
The program is designed to nurture the mental wellness of the hospitality workforce by focusing on building critical areas such as resilience, motivation and mindfulness.
Other initiatives include events and boot camps to support professionals out of work due to COVID-19 with professional development, upskilling and wellness workshops.
What is Clipboard offering the hospitality industry?
Clipboard is co-founded by Brendan Leeds, its CEO with 20 years experience in the hospitality field, and Tipu Sultan, the CTO with 14 years experience in the information technology (IT) sector for , the platform is adding, on average, 450 users and 10 businesses per week.
Brendan Leeds, co-founder and CEO of Clipboard said, “Hospitality and tourism is one of the most fragmented and transitional industries in our economy.”
“These characteristics create massive inefficiencies and suppress global career opportunities and professional development for millions who operate within them.”
“The impact of COVID-19 has strangled the industries’ growth, put a standstill to recruitment and has had a ruinous effect on mental health and wellbeing for the community.”
“Through Clipboard’s technology and platform, we are able to provide these sectors with the necessary tools to support and advance their needs post-pandemic,” said Brendan Leeds
“We are changing the way the industry connects and unites and we have partnered with the best companies to offer the greatest value to our members.”
“We are particularly passionate about supporting the community from a mental wellbeing perspective, building awareness and offering tangible solutions to give them genuine assistance and guidance – especially during challenging times,” Mr Leeds added.
Clipboard enables hospitality businesses to set up dynamic, branded profiles to showcase their business type, cuisine type, location, and industry awards.
Clipboard equips baristas, bartenders, chefs and kitchen staff, to establish member profiles displaying skill sets, experiences, talents, passions and community connections.
Clipboard is a professional networking platform that aims to better connect and promote industry professionals and the sector’s full supply chain.
Clipboard’s ‘Job Portal’ also automatically scans prospective applicants and matches them with posted job descriptions, creating a more accessible, central location for career growth.
Tipu Sultan, Clipboard’s Co-founder and CTO said, “For hospo professionals, the ability to create a professional brand and grow a professional network has never been more important.”
“Clipboard is vital for providing the right opportunities by connecting professionals with a global network to help ensure they reach their career goals.”
“As Clipboard is a centralised networking platform, connections sought by businesses are provided with resources to grow and meet their short and long-term objectives.”
Benefits expected from Clipboard’s Birchal campaign
The focus of Clipboard’s Birchal campaign will be to raise the funds needed to support product innovation, including the development of Clipboard’s mobile application.
Clipboard is targeting enhancing customer experience on the platform and expediting future offerings like onboarding more suppliers and wholesalers.
Integrating a hospitality training community onto the platform, as well as expansion into Southeast Asia are some of Clipboard’s targets from the Birchal campaign.
Simon Lennox, Owner of The Osborne Hotel said, “I have been in the industry for over 30 years and have always believed that relationships are key to success.”
“The Osborne Hotel has built a strong relationship with Clipboard and we work closely together to maximise the success of both our businesses.”
“Clipboard gave The Osborne Hotel much needed industry profile with the hotel’s businesses being highlighted in videos and feature articles on the platform,” says Lennox.
“At that time, we were opening a new venue. The Clipboard platform also highlighted the impact of COVID-19 on the hospitality industry in Australia.”
“I have personally increased my network, raised The Osborne Hotel’s profile and hired staff via Clipboard. The platform has been an essential tool to doing business,” says Simon Lennox.
“We have some exciting plans for collaborative activations and programs in the near future.”
