Peckish, a food ordering app based in Cork, has recently announced its closure due to market shifts. Founded by Paul O’Shea in 2019, the app was poised to launch in 2020 but faced significant setbacks amidst the pandemic-induced closures of restaurants. Seeking €1.5 million in funding for further growth, Peckish struggled to secure enough investment as potential investors perceived it as a high-risk venture.
Although the company managed to raise €125,000 through crowdfunding in 2022, the funds were received after the campaign ended, rendering them ineffective in sustaining the business. Despite O’Shea’s personal financial support, Peckish ultimately proved unsustainable.
The app, which offered a wide range of dishes tailored to individual preferences, dietary requirements, and cost, also provided social media content creation for partner restaurants. The closure of Peckish underscores the challenges faced by early-stage companies in securing funding amid economic fluctuations and investor hesitancy.
Paul O’Shea continues to contribute to the hospitality industry through consultancy work.
Reasons for Closure
The closure of Peckish, Cork’s food ordering app, can be attributed to a combination of unforeseen market changes, the impact of the pandemic on restaurant closures, difficulties in securing sufficient funding for further growth, and investors perceiving the company as a high-risk investment.
Peckish was initially set up with plans to launch in Q1 2020, but the pandemic forced restaurants to close, hindering their progress. The company needed €1.5m for further growth but fell short in funding. Investors were spooked by market changes and viewed Peckish as a high-risk investment.
Although Peckish managed to raise €125,000 through crowdfunding in 2022, the investment didn’t come through until after the campaign was over. Founder Paul O’Shea financially supported the company, but it became unsustainable.
These factors collectively contributed to the closure of Peckish, highlighting the challenges faced by early-stage companies in securing funding and navigating market uncertainties.
Financial Challenges
Despite unforeseen market changes, the financial challenges faced by the company contributed to its closure.
Peckish, a food ordering app based in Cork, struggled to secure the necessary funding for further growth. The company had set a target of raising €1.5m, but fell short in funding. Investors perceived Peckish as a high-risk investment due to market uncertainties, which made it difficult for the company to attract sufficient financial support.
Although Peckish managed to raise €125,000 through crowdfunding in 2022, the investment did not come through until after the campaign had ended. Consequently, founder Paul O’Shea had to financially support the company himself, which ultimately became unsustainable.
These financial challenges, coupled with the delay caused by the pandemic in launching the app, resulted in Peckish’s closure.
Impact of the Pandemic
The COVID-19 pandemic significantly impacted the operations and prospects of Peckish, leading to its financial struggles and eventual closure. As the pandemic forced restaurants to close, Peckish’s plans to launch in Q1 2020 were delayed, hindering their progress. The company needed to raise €1.5m for further growth, but fell short in funding. Investors viewed Peckish as a high-risk investment due to the uncertainty caused by market changes.
Although Peckish managed to raise €125,000 through crowdfunding in 2022, the investment did not come through until after the campaign was over. Founder Paul O’Shea financially supported the company himself, but this became unsustainable. These challenges highlight the difficulties faced by early-stage companies in securing funding during economic changes and interest rate hikes.
The pandemic’s impact on the food industry and investor caution contributed to Peckish’s ultimate closure.
