Over-the-Rhine-based Lisnr has inked a new partnership with a Columbus startup that could help alleviate long waits at some of the nation’s top venues.
Lisnr, which has developed technology that allows for the transmission of data using ultrasonic tones, is partnering with Columbus-based Refill Technologies. The deal will facilitate contactless transactions as the companies expand across events and retail.
The partnership will help Refill deliver touchless entry and payment authorization across its portfolio of nearly 50 merchants and stadium venues. Lisnr will enable advanced proximity verification, identification and payments services to Refill across its suite of services.
Currently, establishments struggle with lines to gain entry and overcrowded service counters, making access challenging. Current methods like QR code or “tap to pay'' require close proximity and thus presents a multitude of safety and congestion concerns, Lisnr said.
Lisnr and Refill initially will provide ultrasonic authentication for ticketing and mobile ordering where verification occurs at fulfillment.
Lisnr’s ultrasonic “data-over-sound” technology works by sending inaudible tones between devices. The company's biggest initiative centers on contactless payments that work from a distance — which its leaders believe creates limitless possibilities for the company in a post-Covid world.
“In these times where overcrowded venues can pose a serious health risk, we believe that the partnership between Lisnr and Refill can effectively solve the problem of congestion at fulfillment in these establishments,” Eric Allen, Lisnr CEO, said in a release.
The three-year partnership will be implemented across Refill’s portfolio of nearly 50 merchant and stadium venues — including Express Live in Columbus, Roseland Theater in Portland, Ore., and College Street Music Hall in New Haven, Conn., among others.
In 2020, due to the pandemic, restaurant and foodservice sales missed forecasted projections to the tune of $240 billion. As consumers return in to a “new normal,” they expect safe and secure ordering and fulfillment solutions, Anthony Reynolds, Refill CEO and co-founder, said.
Rapidly, these types of solutions have become an essential element to the customer experience.
“As venues start to allow more and more capacity, it’s imperative the correct tech solution is in place that ensures both a safe method of authentication and doesn’t compromise the customer experience,” Reynolds said in the release. “We believe Lisnr enables us to provide that solution.”
Refill Technologies, which landed a $1 million angel investment earlier this year, launched its venue contactless payment and mobile ordering technology in January 2020, with features like scan your card, order throttling and quick reorder. The company originally debuted as an app five years ago, offering one-hour delivery of snacks and drinks from client stores.
In addition to stadium venues, Refill’s customers include ski resorts and craft breweries; Refill’s tech also offers data to the venues, so they can tell if a particular promotion works or not.
Lisnr, founded in 2012, employs 15 locally with offices in Over-the-Rhine and Oakland, Calif. It’s considered one of Greater Cincinnati’s best-funded startups, with more than $40 million raised from major investors like Visa, Intel, Jump Capital, NTT DOCOMO Ventures, Mercury Fund, R/GA and Synchrony Financial.
