FanFood of Chicago offers app-based food ordering for live events, although it faces rivalry from industry giants. The app delivers concessions directly to fans' seats, usually at a $1 to $3 upcharge for each item, and the company says it has deals with six venues in Texas, Iowa, and California. The startup provides venues and their food service providers with back-end Web and mobile apps, the hardware to operate it, and a manager to supervise operations at the particular venue. Concession stands are required to track and fulfill orders, and ensure they get into the right hands. FanFood contends in-seat delivery and pre-ordering helps venues sell tickets, and customers are more likely to order food multiple times when the need to wait in line is removed. FanFood users can employ the app at no charge, as the company generates revenue by billing venues for installation, taking a share of the concession stands' revenue, and charging customers convenience fees. Among FanFood's biggest competitors is VenueNext, which is supported by investors that include Live Nation and Twitter. FanFood co-founder Carson Goodale says ventures such as VenueNext are "in the business of creating infrastructure rehauls. We've built a technology platform [that can] integrate into any stadium at any size, to meet any fan at low- to hardly-a-cost to the [venue] and the food service company."
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