Bestie Bite Growth Hack : 22K Users, 3x Top 10 App Installed, Revolutionizing Restaurant Discovery with Video Reviews

Founders Espresso Shots: featuring shot-size inspiring stories, key lessons, and practical tips from Hidden Champion Founders to boost their entrepreneurial journey.

Oct 22, 2024

🚀 Growth Hack

Viral Marketing & Video Reviews for Rapid Growth

Launched in 2021, Bestie Bite built a platform centered on user-generated video reviews for a more engaging experience. In 2024, they went viral on TikTok, hitting the top 10 most downloaded apps three times. Combined with paid ads, they grew to 22,000 users, aiming for 35,000 by year-end, proving the power of smart marketing.

Advice: Authenticity fuels engagement and growth.

💡 Founder Spotlight

Carlotta Robbe Di Lorenzo, Co-founder of Bestie Bite – From Frustration to Innovation

Carlotta’s entrepreneurial journey started in 2021 with the launch of Bestie Bite. After joining programs like Boost Your Idea and Techstars, she identified a key issue during a trip to Greece—restaurant reviews were inconsistent. She and her co-founder, Caterina, developed Bestie Bite to offer a more cohesive, video-based solution, replacing outdated review systems.

"We realized social platforms weren’t optimized for restaurant discovery, so we created something new," Carlotta said.

Advice: Let passion guide your business vision.

🗝 Founder Tips

Fail Fast and Keep Iterating

Don’t aim for perfection at first. The first version will always need improvement. Learn to iterate quickly and evolve based on user feedback. Patience is also key in dealing with investors—balance persistence with thoughtful decision-making.

Advice: Embrace constant improvement and quick iterations.

🛠 Startup Tools

Viral Marketing via TikTok

TikTok was essential for Bestie Bite’s viral growth. By leveraging the platform’s short-form content and pairing it with paid ads, they drove app downloads and reached the top 10, far surpassing competitors in the food tech space.

Advice: Use platforms aligned with your audience for maximum impact

☕ Cup of Founders Wisdom

The Importance of Team Culture

Building a strong company culture is tough but crucial. Carlotta learned that communicating her vision to the team requires effort, especially as an introvert. Creating alignment is essential to ensure everyone works towards the same mission.

Advice: Strong team alignment is key to sustainable growth.

🔋 Boost of Inspiration

Resilience, Madness, and Integrity

Carlotta’s advice: founders need resilience, madness, and integrity. Reputation is everything, and maintaining ethical standards is critical for success. Her goal is to create a lasting impact while growing Bestie Bite into a unicorn.

Advice: Resilience, integrity, and passion drive lasting success.