A Waterloo-based startup is inviting local restaurants to help test a new food delivery app that aims to be simpler, cheaper, and more supportive of independent businesses.
The app, called Dlicio, is still in the early stages, but co-founders Victor Okon and Mikhai Wilson want to offer a fairer alternative to the mainstream platforms many restaurants rely on.
“Our focus is on local restaurants because most of them are struggling,” Okon said. “DLICIO is a zero-commission platform. We don’t charge restaurants any money per order.”
Stirring the pot on food delivery
Instead of taking a cut from every sale, Dlicio uses a flat monthly subscription model.
“Restaurants can pay per month to be on the platform and receive orders,” Okon said. “That’s why we always say zero commission.”
Okon and Wilson recently took part in the Communitech Startup Bootcamp, a program for early-stage founders to test out their ideas and get feedback. They shared their concept at the Bootcamp Showcase event on June 18 at the Communitech Hub in downtown Kitchener.
The idea was sparked by conversations with local restaurant owners who felt trapped by high commissions and thinning margins. By shifting to a fixed-pricing model, Dlicio hopes to give these businesses more control and help them keep what they earn.
Food for the eyes
Dlicio also wants to provide a better experience for app users looking to order food.
“If TikTok and Uber had a baby, it would be DLICIO,” Okon said. “People want to see what they’re ordering.”
Restaurants can upload short, scrollable videos of their dishes so customers know exactly what to expect. Dlicio’s team believes this transparency helps reduce both food waste and order dissatisfaction.
“It gives people more idea of how the meals are made and what they’re getting,” he said.
Ready for taste-testers
Dlicio also features a built-in rewards system that brings a playful twist to takeout. Users earn points with every order, and can spin for surprise discounts and exclusive perks.
The app isn’t fully public yet, but the MVP is currently live on TestFlight, available by invitation only for those interested in trying Dlicio.
A growing number of independent restaurants in Kitchener and Waterloo are already participating. The Dlicio team is personally onboarding restaurants, filming reels of signature dishes, and loading them into the app to gather early feedback.
“We’re not asking anyone to sign anything right now,” Okon said. “Let us prove what we can do first.”
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