13 February 2008

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Leading international software company offers online ordering software for the food industry

Cape Town, February 13, 2008: HBD Venture Capital – the venture capital firm founded by Mark Shuttleworth in 2000 – announced today that it had concluded terms for an investment of R9-million in orderTalk, the creator of highly sophisticated online restaurant ordering software. This latest announcement brings to three the number of investments made by HBD in early stage South African entrepreneurial businesses in the past few months.

OrderTalk provides software for internet-based ordering to the restaurant, fast food and hospitality industries. It will use the financing from HBD Venture Capital to improve its infrastructure, introduce new product lines and streamline services and support, all in a bid to meet huge demand in the US and UK.

Eben van Heerden, investment manager at HBD said that after rigorous research and investigation, OrderTalk had emerged as an exceptional investment prospect which was highly scaleable and promised rapid growth. “OrderTalk’s software is the most sophisticated of its kind internationally. It provides food chains with outlets of 50 or more with a branded online ordering functionality in a very short period of time and takes care of all the technical aspects of the process.”

Customised, real-time ordering The orderTalk software allows restaurant patrons to place real-time orders over the internet, as well as any subsequent changes. For example, one can easily replace anchovies with asparagus on a pizza prior to an order being processed. Regardless of the complexity of a menu, the software can also be integrated with point-of-sale systems, as well as live calls to a customer contact centre.

Originally created by a Dallas-based South African for a mid-sized, US-based fast food firm, the software is now used in about 600 restaurants in both America and the UK, including Jason’s Deli, Bombay Bicycle Club, Yo! Sushi and EasyPizza.

OrderTalk in South Africa “Given that South Africans are sophisticated online consumers who are increasingly integrating the Internet into their daily lives, orderTalk’s software was recently introduced in the country,” said CEO, Patrick Eldon. “Ordering take-aways online is a convenience which we feel sure will grow in popularity and are currently trialing the product with a leading local pizza delivery company.”

Despite its extensive international presence, OrderTalk’s back office functions are conducted from Cape Town. “While we continue to host our clients from US soil, SA’s talented workforce and efficient communications infrastructure make it highly feasible to operate back office services from here.”

In the past six months HBD has invested in three early stage businesses. “We invest in entrepreneurs and business owners with the vision and talent to build world-class, sustainable businesses,” added Van Heerden. “Our latest deals – OrderTalk, Moyo and SACab – are three unique companies which are all headed by highly passionate teams. We are looking forward to working with them and offering them mentorship, strategic guidance, governance support and backing – all with the aim of achieving global success!”

Visit www.ordertalk.com for more information.