A Fetching, Baltimore-based Web 2.0 Company One of the more dramatic, grandiose dot-com implosions was Webvan -the online grocer that delivered. With 3,500 employees at its peak and a 25-city presence, Webvan boasted a roster of powerful backers including Borders Group Founder Louis Borders and former Andersen Consulting Chief George Shaheen. On its first day as an IPO, it jumped from $15 to $26. But in 2000, a $347 million loss presaged that within the next year, Chapter 11 would prevent its last delivery.

In Baltimore, there is a related seedling of a company named www.fetchfood.com.

Fetchfood is delivering fast food instead of groceries. Unlike Webvan, www.fetchfood.com may have a scalable model.

Founder Avery Boyce describes herself as “a woman with a vision - - of hungry time-starved urbanites, pulling their favorite carry-out menu online, ripping through a customized order screen, handily paying by credit card and receiving their food in short order.”

Prior to launching Fetchfood in October 2004, Avery was working for the Kennedy Krieger Institute doing MRI research. Her inspiration came while searching for a place to eat in College Park with friends after an evening class. “If I can buy an automobile online, why can’t I buy lunch?”

Conceived by Boyce and two professional acquaintances, Fetchfood was initially financed with $30,000 from her family. She recently bought out her two partners.
With 40 restaurants on board, a Round 2 Communications marketing campaign, and an off the record Web 2.0 stealth strategy, Avery is starting out to raise an angel round.

I met Avery last week and feel that she understands the scaling challenges of such a startup. She just might accomplish what the Webvan team was unable to do.

The next time you’re thinking about what’s for dinner, visit www.fetchfood.com.

Labels: Fetchfood, online fast food delivery

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