First Table raises NZ$12M Series A led by Altered Capital to fuel global growth | VeilStrat

First Table Secures NZ$12M Series A

First Table, the Queenstown-founded restaurant booking platform, has raised a Series A round of NZ$12 million. The round was led by Altered Capital, with participation from Icehouse Ventures, K1W1, Mainland Angel Investors, Invest South, and Snowball Effect. The funding date is September 11, 2026.

What First Table Does

First Table is a restaurant booking platform that gives diners 50% off their food bill for booking off-peak sittings. The model helps venues turn otherwise-empty tables into revenue. Venues list for free, while diners pay a small booking fee.

Founded in Queenstown in 2014, First Table operates in more than 65 cities across New Zealand, Australia, the UK, and Ireland. It connects around 3.9 million diners with over 5,000 restaurants and has seated more than five million diners since launch. The company ranks as New Zealand's number one restaurant booking app.

Leadership Transition

Former Uber and Deliveroo executive Alex Cappy was appointed CEO in 2026 to lead international growth. Founder Mat Weir has moved into an AI and technology role.

Funding Details

Round type: Series A
Amount: NZ$12,000,000
Currency: NZD
Date: September 11, 2026
Lead investor: Altered Capital
Participating investors: Icehouse Ventures, K1W1, Mainland Angel Investors, Invest South, Snowball Effect

Why This Matters for Acquisition Watchers

The Series A provides First Table with capital to accelerate its international expansion, particularly across its existing markets in New Zealand, Australia, the UK, and Ireland. With a new CEO experienced in scaling global consumer platforms at Uber and Deliveroo, the company is positioning itself for growth in the restaurant booking and dining rewards space. Its established network of over 5,000 restaurants and 3.9 million diners makes it an attractive asset for acquirers in the hospitality tech, food delivery, or consumer marketplace sectors looking to add off-peak dining demand generation.

About First Table

First Table is a restaurant booking platform founded in Queenstown in 2014. It operates in more than 65 cities across New Zealand, Australia, the UK, and Ireland, connecting diners with restaurants through off-peak dining discounts.