World-first Sunshine Coast start-up Cerge secures major local client ahead of national rollout plans

A world-first app founded by a Sunshine Coast couple has locked in a deal with a leading supermarket chain in a bid to propel long-term growth. Read the full story:

A world-first disability support start-up developed by a husband and wife has secured a major Sunshine Coast client for the innovative app as the couple aims to go nationwide this year.

Cerge co-founders Chris and Victoria Kerrisk have partnered with White’s IGA Baringa to trial their app among the supermarket’s staff and customers.

It comes after the pair locked in their first paying client WaterMarc Banyule in Melbourne in November last year.

WaterMarc Banyule is owned by Belgravia Leisure which operates more than 200 recreational facilities in Australia and New Zealand.

They have since signed on more subscribers to their app including Murray’s on Duporth and Sixth, and several other local businesses.

The duo co-founded Cerge in September, 2019 which enables businesses to personalise their customer service for people living with a disability based on the customer’s requirements which are entered on the app and received by registered businesses.

Mr Kerrisk said the partnership with IGA Baringa opens the prospect of expanding their app across 1400 IGA stores nationwide and make a positive difference for shoppers.

“Working with White’s IGA brings tremendous credibility to our early stage digital business and awareness of the change we are trying to create,” Mr Kerrisk said.

“This will have natural flow on effects for future growth, it takes time to establish new relationships especially when you are an unknown entity. Increasing familiarity of our brand will only accelerate our ability to get established in new communities across Australia and internationally.

“Most importantly, through this partnership we can make it an easier experience for people living with a disability for something as essential as getting their groceries which is profound.”

Cerge operates on a subscription model where businesses are charged $50 a month to use the platform and individuals with a disability or carers use the app for free.

The start-up is currently in the process of raising bridging finance to conduct a seed raising round mid-year and are aiming to generate $1m in capital from investors to ramp up their expansion plans.

They are is also looking to have 500 to 1,000 businesses signed onto the service by the end of the year and are in talk with several national brands about the uptake of their platform.

Mr Kerrisk said both capital and guidance from investors would enable their business to scale up more effectively long-term.

“The next big step for us is how we consistently on-board customers and clients, so our focus has been on creating something that an investor would believe if they decided to invest in our business and get a return,” Mr Kerrisk said.

“What we’ve been able to demonstrate since November to now is that we’ve got a reliable and scalable sales strategy to make that happen and we believe we’ve de-risked this business so it's investor ready.”