Foodservice HOMiES

Catermonkey: from catering practice to international software platform

Around 2012, Maty Van Geirt ran into the same problem every day in his catering business. Quotes, scheduling, purchasing and admin were spread across Excel files, manual calculations and paper. That meant a lot of admin work, and copying the same information over and over again.

Through a mutual contact, he got to know Marten Sytema, a Dutch software developer who was working on a digital solution for caterers. The idea behind it appealed to Maty: less paper, more overview, and bringing different processes together in one system.

Maty started using the software in his own catering business. And with that, a years-long collaboration began.

Six years developing from catering practice

For six years, Maty used the software for his daily work. That brought any shortcomings to light naturally. Marten built, Maty tested, and together they improved the system. Later, other users joined too, giving feedback from their own day-to-day practice.

That long run-up became an important part of Catermonkey. Maty knew the catering trade from the inside, and understood what happens during a busy weekend, with a last-minute change, or when information between sales and the kitchen doesn't get passed on properly.

His role developed in an unusual way because of this: Maty was a user for years first, and only later became a co-founder.

From internal tool to Catermonkey

Around 2018, Marten and Maty decided to make the software suitable for other catering businesses. They formalised their partnership, rebuilt large parts of the software, and kept working on the platform from a barn in Retie. About ten customers helped out as a focus group during this phase.

Catermonkey launched in 2018. The software brings together the journey from enquiry and quote through to scheduling, purchasing and invoicing. Sales and the kitchen can work from the same system as a result.

Catermonkey started with four customers in the Kempen region and around Amsterdam. The platform was built further from that first group.

Catering practice as the foundation

The idea behind Catermonkey has stayed the same since those early years: take as much administrative manual work out of catering as possible, and bring information together in one place.

Maty's hands-on experience played an important role in development. His years of experience as a caterer were combined with Marten's technical expertise. That meant the software could be used, tested and improved in daily practice for years before Catermonkey went further into the market.

There's an important lesson for entrepreneurs in that too. By staying close to the shop floor, it kept becoming clear where caterers ran into problems in their daily work, and where the software could be improved further.

From the Benelux to new markets

After growing in the Benelux, Catermonkey took the next step in 2025: going international. A French version followed, with its own website and positioning, then an English version.

It turned out that a new market needs more than just translating software and communication. Regulations, contract types and customer expectations differ from country to country. That calls for knowledge of the local market, and an approach that fits it.

By April 2026, Catermonkey was active with customers in the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Austria, Bolivia and Mexico. Further expansion is also planned.

Catermonkey has come a long way since the first version was tested for years inside its own catering business. Catering practice remains the starting point for the platform's further development.

Where Catermonkey could use some help

Catermonkey is now focused on further growth inside and outside the Benelux. New connections are especially valuable at this stage.

Within the HOMiES network, contacts with professionals who know these markets and the local catering sector well could be useful. Think of sharing market knowledge, experience or relevant introductions that could help Catermonkey with further international growth. Are you active in catering, do you have experience with one of the markets Catermonkey is growing into, or do you see an interesting connection through your network? Get in touch to make contact and swap experiences.

This article originally appeared as a HOMiES Startup Story on Foodservice HOMiES.