SKYPE A FOUNDER #1: Soraya Darabi, Cofounder and Business Development Lead at Foodspotting

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Everyone who knows me, knows of my unbound passion for (good) food. My friends call me insane for spending at least 60% of my disposable income on food (yes, that is more than I spend on rent, bills, etc.). 

In part I guess that my mom is to blame. She is a phenomenally good cook and I grew up being treated to an exquisite organic and exotic cuisine. Once you get used to eating that way, there is no way back. Since I cant cook that well “yet” (I am taking cooking classes to change that), I am left with eating out most of the time. 

This is where Foodspotting comes into play. To everyone who likes trying new dishes and restaurants, Foodspotting can be of great value and I am becoming addicted to the service, somehow to the detriment of my Body Mass Index. 

Foodspotting is a visual guide to good food and where to find it. When eating out, it allows you to recommend dishes via their mobile App or search for great dishes around you. I started using it complimentary to other crowdsourced services such as Qype or Yelp, but lately Foodspotting has become my go-to application when choosing a new place to eat. Whereas reviews on Qype and Yelp are often without relevant information and boring to read, photos on Foodspotting can instigate instant cravings. On top of that, the service boasts a great UX, fueled by a sleek design and engaging game mechanics. Who better to tell you more about it all than charming Soraya! 

P.S. I am not sure if it is due to selective perception, but the day after our interview I came across Soraya’s favorite dish for the first time: Caramel ice cream with sea salt. It is now spotted, so the next time Soraya visits Berlin, she knows where to find it.

Come check out Foodspotting and follow my discovery ride through Berlin’s restaurants here. 

by Nikolas Woischnik