Grubhub parent acquires restaurant rewards startup Claim

In a strategic move to enhance its offerings, Wonder, the parent company of Grubhub, has successfully acquired Claim, a rising star in the restaurant rewards app sector. Launched in 2021, Claim has made a name for itself by providing cash-back incentives for patrons of local eateries, which can be redeemed for dine-in or takeout orders. Restaurants collaborate with Claim to craft targeted promotions, increase foot traffic, and access performance analytics via the Claim dashboard. While the financial specifics of the acquisition remain undisclosed, it is noteworthy that Claim previously secured $20 million in funding, including a $12 million Series A round in October 2024, with Pitchbook estimating its market valuation to be around $62 million. This acquisition is poised to enhance Grubhub's platform by equipping its restaurant partners with advanced customer acquisition and retention strategies. Additionally, diners using Grubhub can look forward to new opportunities for savings and rewards when dining out. Sam Obletz, CEO and co-founder of Claim, emphasized the transformative nature of this partnership, stating, "By integrating a delightful rewards experience with sophisticated machine learning models, we are able to connect restaurants with their future loyal customers. Joining Grubhub signifies an exciting new phase for us as we aim to reach millions more diners and thousands of restaurants." Grubhub confirmed to TechCrunch that all Claim team members have been invited to join their organization. Under this new umbrella, Claim aims to facilitate deeper connections between restaurants and consumers through tailored rewards, all while minimizing customer acquisition costs and maintaining operational simplicity. Howard Migdal, CEO of Grubhub, remarked, "Claim’s cutting-edge rewards technology offers a novel approach for our restaurant partners to engage diners in person. By uniting Grubhub and Claim, we can extend Claim's data-driven resources to over 415,000 merchants, enabling nearly 20 million diners to save more at their favorite eateries." Currently, Claim is accessible to Grubhub merchants and diners in New York City, with plans for a nationwide rollout later this year. Grubhub has assured TechCrunch that the Claim app and website will remain operational for existing users in the interim. As the integration progresses, the company intends to develop a more streamlined experience across both the Grubhub and Claim platforms, although specific details are yet to be revealed. Current users of Claim can expect some adjustments to the product and reward disbursement, but they will continue receiving personalized promotions and incentives for visiting local restaurants. Claim's investor roster features notable names such as VMG Technology, Sequoia Capital, Susa Ventures, Lightbank, and Metalab Ventures.