China-based restaurant booking app developer 9Now has closed a series C round featuring local services review platform Dianping and internet company Baidu at RMB500m ($78.6m), China Money Network reported yesterday.
Venture capital firm Matrix Partners and unnamed additional backers also participated in the round.
Founded in 2013, 9Now’s mobile app aims to eliminate long queues at restaurants by enabling users to find out waiting times for tables, meaning they only have to turn up once they can be seated.
9Now will use the money to further develop its technology and form agreements with more restaurants.
Matrix Partners and Tiantu Capital provided $20m in series B funding for 9Now in November 2014, after Matrix provided an undisclosed amount for the company’s 2013 series A round.