Blackbird Labs Launches Web3 Platform ‘Blackbird Pay’ to Enhance Restaurant Payments

Blackbird Labs, founded by Ben Leventhal of Resy and Eater fame, has unveiled Blackbird Pay, a groundbreaking payments system aimed at revolutionizing the dining experience and improving financial outcomes for restaurants. Utilizing the new Blackbird Flynet blockchain, this innovative system allows restaurants to handle end-to-end payments and check settlements at significantly lower costs. By paying only 2% per transaction, restaurants can save a substantial amount compared to traditional payment processing fees. Diners, on the other hand, enjoy seamless checkouts without the usual end-of-meal wait, and can pay using Blackbird’s native rewards points, $FLY.

“In the last decade, we’ve seen great advances in restaurant technology, but we have made virtually no progress with payments, which tend to be expensive, cumbersome, and technologically opaque for most restaurants,” said Ben Leventhal, Founder and CEO of Blackbird. “Blackbird Pay changes all of that and we’re excited to partner with the restaurant industry to forge a new path forward.”

Enhancing the Dining Experience

When diners arrive at a Blackbird member restaurant, they simply tap a Blackbird puck embedded with an NFC chip. This action opens a check within the Blackbird app, where diners can choose to split the bill, pay with $FLY points, use a credit or debit card, or combine payment methods. They can also tip via the app. If diners lack sufficient $FLY points, they can purchase more within the app using traditional payment methods or USDC.

The app notifies the restaurant that a Blackbird guest has arrived, providing key information such as their dining history and VIP status through a proprietary Guest Value Score. This enables restaurants to offer personalized perks, benefits, and other hospitality touches to enhance the guest experience.

“Blackbird Pay has the power to revolutionize the entire restaurant business,” said Roni Mazumdar, co-owner of Unapologetic Foods. “Being able to save thousands of dollars a month in processing fees alone is incredible, but being able to now have one place where we can strengthen ongoing relationships with our customers, is a total game changer in this challenging environment.”

In addition to Blackbird Pay, Blackbird Labs has introduced new messaging and discovery features. These tools enhance connectivity between guests and restaurants, making interactions frictionless and enjoyable. Recently, Gjelina New York raised nearly $500,000 using Blackbird to sell house accounts for a new location. Similarly, Sra. Martinez, a restaurant by James Beard Award-winning chef Michelle Bernstein, launched a founding members program offering early table access, complimentary cocktails, and direct in-app messaging with the restaurant.

Blackbird Pay represents a significant shift in how restaurants manage payments and engage with guests, promising a future of more efficient operations and enriched dining experiences.