Pirq is looking to expand its mobile restaurant deal offering nationwide. And to do that, the Kirkland company has received a commitment for another $1.2 million in venture funding, with TechCrunch reporting that CEO James Sun is on the prowl for an even bigger round. (A Pirq representative said that the new round has not yet closed, though it is expected later this month).
The new cash, provided by Rally Capital, comes on top of the $1.9 million it raised last December. Total funding now stands at $3.2 million.
Pirq is different from the competition since it intelligently schedules deals for off-peak times at restaurants, say early afternoon or late evening. Restaurant managers need not enter a specific time frame to run the deals, and consumers simply install the free app to get started, redeeming the deals via a Microsoft Tag at the restaurant.
Today, the company said that it is adding new services to its SmartYield program, adding a digital punch card system. The new service, which will be unveiled October 15th, allows restaurants to track customers visits and offer customized rewards to frequent visitors. It also will allow restaurant owners to send targeted offers to individuals.
The new service will integrate with Pirq’s existing app, which will remain free.
“It will all be integrated into one app, so there will still be time stamped, yield management, deals in the same app,” said a a Pirq spokesperson. “However, we will have a separate texting service for those that do not own a smartphone. Those without a smartphone will be able to text message a unique SMS code to accumulate punches and earn loyalty rewards.”
Pirq also said that it is gearing up for a national launch of the service, and plans to expand its offering beyond restaurants.
Previously on GeekWire: Apple employees to get exclusive restaurant deals with Pirq
