Necessity is the mother of all inventions, it is said. And the furious pace at which people across the globe have immersed themselves into digital offerings has opened up oceans of opportunities for technology entrepreneurs. As if the breathless pace at which these tech platforms were growing before 2020 was not sufficient, the Covid-19 pandemic entered the scene as a force multiplier, compelling countries, governments, corporations, and individuals to completely re-engineer their digital strategies. The pandemic has undoubtedly taken a massive toll on human life, but it has also forced people to come up with new ideas to meet challenges head-on. Startups can be found in virtually every sphere, but few have generated the kind of interest that food apps have witnessed. It’s in this context that a platform like Shef is forcing heads to take notice. What is Shef? The digital platform Shef is a community-based homemade food startup. It enables chefs to promote self-prepared cuisines for their acquaintances and is rapidly gaining popularity in the US, particularly in Chicago, New York, Houston, San Francisco, and Boston. During the last couple of years, Shef helped chefs sell over a million dishes and feed hundreds of people homemade meals across the country. The word ‘Shef’ — a French way of pronouncing chef — was founded in 2019. Its founder Joey Grassia says that the homemade meal delivery service platform was inspired by his parents, who were immigrants from Italy, and struggled to make a living once they arrived in the US. Why is there a need to build a platform like Shef? The Covid-19 pandemic that has been raging across the globe since early 2020 brought about numerous changes in the way people conducted their lives. Lockdowns have had far-reaching impacts across industries. Hotels and restaurants have suffered disproportionately and were shut down for lengthy periods, with only take-out being allowed. As a result, food delivery platforms and home cooking on demand gained a lot of traction. In the US, a whopping 26,000 restaurants have been forced to shut down since the beginning of the pandemic, but on the brighter side, this development has seen the rise of homemade food startups and homemade food businesses. For example, the popularity of delivery apps like DoorDash and Grubhub shows that there is a great demand for meal delivery. Witnessing this diverse change in people’s lifestyles and business opportunities for online applications, there is a significant demand for platforms like Shef, an online home-cooked meal delivery business platform for passionate people who like cooking and want to utilize their skills for financial gain. It also caters convincingly to the demand of customers who are keen on buying high-quality homemade, and authentic dishes. How does the homemade meal delivery platform work? Home cooking is essentially an on-demand activity and those interested in it can conduct their business mainly through community-based platforms. There are primarily two sides to this business. 1. Customers seeking this service Customers need to register digitally on the platform and simply enter their zip code on the homepage. If the platform is operating in that particular area, they will see dozens of talented chefs in their neighborhood from whom they can order and choose a service they like. When they find something they like, they can start adding dishes to their cart to begin building the order. 2. Chefs preparing the food How does the meal prep business work? The chef sets their availability and the customers order from the menu they have set on the platform. Then the platform will inform them about the orders in an easy-to-read list. When they have finished cooking, they can prepare them for delivery. The mode of delivery may vary in each market based on local requirements, but the platform will help the chefs identify the best delivery method available. Now, the question is how do chefs benefit from homemade meal delivery services. An online homemade food delivery platform roughly collects a transaction fee of 15% on each order. The rest of the payment and tip goes to the chef. Based on this model, Shef has raised a whopping $20mn which they intend to invest in entering and expanding into newer markets. How to start an online food business from home? ● Create a commercial enterprise: Layout a menu, set fees and offerings consistent with your availability so that the platform will assist you with bills, logistics, and customer service. ● Serve clients: If you are planning to develop a platform like Shef, then make sure to invest in advertising to guide users to meal groups that allow you to boost the business’ reach across networks. ● Necessities: Necessities include a computer/phone with an awesome internet connection. To sum up, the demand for homemade meal delivery platforms is growing within a wide cross-section of people from diverse backgrounds and ethnicities. Customers are getting increasingly curious about new cuisines and what prepared meals have to offer. The potential of the homemade food business is immense, for customers have started to believe that the concept of ‘home-cooked meals delivery’ can bring authentic dishes to their doorsteps. You too can achieve enormous success in the home-cooked meal delivery business. To start with, you need a website that says everything about your offerings: the cuisine, delivery services, the areas covered, and a lot more. Our experienced team of web designers will help you carve a niche for yourself in this industry. Don’t hesitate to call us at +1.408.621.8481 or send an email at team@sdi.la.