In this episode of the Restaurant AI Podcast, Matt Wampler sits down with Tim Martin, Co-Founder and Owner of BoxBox, a new Denver restaurant concept built around sharing food and connecting people. Tim isn’t just launching a brand, he’s building one of the most technologically advanced single-unit restaurants in the country. He explains how AI became his “first employee,” helping him document hundreds of hours of recipe R&D, organize his menu and brand vision, and even guide him through vibe-coding a completely custom, headless tech stack with no traditional POS. Together, Matt and Tim unpack how he mirrored kiosk orders to his team in real time, created a fully modifier-based menu architecture, built forecasting and prep systems in Google Cloud, and used AI to accelerate every part of operations without sacrificing hospitality. Tim also shares the emotional side of opening BoxBox, the cultural importance of designing a brand around shared meals, and why he believes AI creates an unprecedented competitive advantage for independent operators. This deep, inspiring conversation reveals what’s possible when a single-unit entrepreneur embraces AI as a true collaborator—and what the future of restaurant operations might look like because of it. Episode Links Visit ClearCOGS Online: https://clearcogs.com Connect with ClearCOGS LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/clearcogs Connect with Matt on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/matthewjwampler Visit BoxBox Online: https://orderboxbox.com Connect with Tim on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tim-martin-90567735 00:00 Intro02:49 Tim Martin / BoxBox05:01 20 Years in Restaurants & the ChatGPT Switch06:29 The Emotional Rollercoaster of Opening07:40 What a Headless Tech Stack Means08:14 Modifier-Only Menu Architecture09:38 Ordering Without a Traditional POS11:04 Real-Time Kiosk Mirroring12:20 Homegrown Hardware Solutions14:06 Struggling With APIs (Until AI)15:21 Letting AI Teach You16:25 Building BigQuery and Dashboards17:14 Recording All R&D for AI18:53 Training AI on Brand and Voice19:50 Custom Forecasting Tools21:04 AI as a Collaborator22:22 Onboarding AI as an Employee24:29 Building Their Own Tech Stack25:52 Competitive Advantage for Independents30:01 AI Food Photography30:24 What AI Can’t Replace32:35 Practical Culinary Uses for AI34:01 BoxBox Mission & Concept35:47 Shared Meals vs. Individual Meals39:02 Chipotle’s Shareables Enter the Chat42:25 The Gap in 4–8 Person Meals43:02 Has His Life Gotten Worse?45:27 Building Boundaries as a Founder47:09 100 Days of Iteration49:09 Tech, Culture, and Human Connection52:19 AI, Labor, and the Future of Work53:20 Tim’s AI Playbook for Operators57:05 “Threaten Your AI”58:54 Where to Find BoxBox59:25 Outro

On this episode of The Restaurant AI Podcast, ClearCOGS co-founder and CEO Matt Wampler sits down with Zhong Xu, the visionary founder behind Deliverect, now valued at over $1.4 billion. Zhong opens up about the relentless execution and radical simplicity that powered Deliverect’s rise from a scrappy MVP to a global restaurant infrastructure platform used by thousands of brands. Zhong shares the unbelievable early story: validating the business before writing real code, onboarding 300 restaurants across multiple countries within months, and using this traction to fuel what would become one of the biggest success stories in restaurant technology. From there, he and Matt dive into the complexity of the modern digital restaurant stack and why Zhong believes AI agents and the Model Context Protocol (MCP) will change everything. They break down how MCP gives AI the context it needs to reason like a true operator, how agents will place orders, test systems, optimize menus, and even catch fraud in real time. Zhong also details the next wave coming to restaurants: drone delivery, autonomous logistics, AI-generated menus, refund-fraud prevention using camera intelligence, and operational automations that happen long before a human ever touches the POS. Packed with insights on execution, growth, AI strategy, and the future of restaurant tech, this is the definitive episode for operators, founders, and anyone watching the rapid acceleration of restaurant AI. Zhong’s billion-dollar journey is a masterclass — and his vision for what’s coming next is even bigger. Episode Links - Visit Deliverect: https://www.deliverect.com/en-us Connect with Zhong Xu: https://www.linkedin.com/in/zhongyuanxu Visit ClearCOGS: https://www.clearcogs.com/ Connect with Matt Wampler: https://www.linkedin.com/in/matthewjwampler 00:00 Intro 01:36 Zhong’s entrepreneurial background 11:10 The catalyst for starting Deliverect 17:00 Why traditional Point of Sale (POS) systems couldn't solve the digital ordering problem  20:53 Fragmented POS market 28:55 The "Wizard of Oz" Minimum Viable Product (MVP) for Deliverect 31:55 Defining a working technology MVP in the restaurant industry  38:15 State of the relationship between third-party delivery and restaurants 41:21 The MCP is the "smart layer on top of the plumbing"  47:10 The challenge of large language models (LLMs) and the need for a protocol like MCP to prevent "hallucinations"  57:26 Building a 'firewall' to manage which AI agents can access a restaurant's private data. 1:01:00 The specifics of what Deliverect is currently building 1:07:15 Drone delivery isn’t far away 1:12:35 How technology can improve the poor economics of the restaurant industry  1:14:55 Final discussion on data visibility and how information should be shared across the different levels of restaurant management  1:18:56 Outro

In this episode of the Restaurant AI Podcast, host Matt Wampler, Co-Founder and CEO of ClearCOGS, sits down with Charlie Eblen — founder of Single Tree BBQ and host of Single Tree Nation on ESPN Radio — to share one of the most inspiring stories in hospitality. When the pandemic hit, Charlie lost his corporate job overnight. Instead of playing it safe, he followed his wife’s advice: “Go do what you love.” Out of a 26-foot food trailer and a few thousand dollars in savings, Single Tree BBQ was born. What started as a way to feed his community became something much bigger — a movement built on authenticity, storytelling, and service. With zero media experience, Charlie picked up a phone, went live on Instagram, and started sharing his journey. Three years later, he’s running a thriving restaurant, hosting a nationally syndicated radio show, and partnering with Toast to grow his brand’s impact. Charlie shares how vulnerability and community connection fueled his success, the moment that changed his life forever, and why he believes “it takes a community to build a business.” From sending a child with cancer to Disney World to designing the next flagship BBQ restaurant, this is the story of what happens when you stop waiting for permission — and start betting on yourself. Episode Links: Visit Single Tree BBQ Online: https://www.singletreebbq.com/ Listen to Single Tree Nation: https://www.singletreebbq.com/podcast Connect with Charlie: https://www.linkedin.com/in/charlieeblen Visit ClearCOGS Online: https://www.clearcogs.com/ Connect with Matt: https://www.linkedin.com/in/matthewjwampler 00:00 Intro 00:45 Welcome, Charlie Eblen! 01:22 Restaurateurs becoming media companies 02:26 Charlie's story 04:40 Growing the Single Tree brand 06:40 Becoming the "Nike of BBQ" 07:50 Starting from a single food truck 08:20 Getting laid off was the "best worst day of my life" 10:30 The next Single Tree BBQ 11:45 The legacy of Single Tree BBQ 12:35 Outro

In this episode of the Restaurant AI Podcast, host Matt Wampler, Co-Founder and CEO of ClearCOGS, sits down with Maria Zhang, Co-Founder and CEO of Polona, live from the 2025 CREATE Conference in Nashville. Together, they explore how artificial intelligence can enhance—not replace—the human touch that defines great hospitality. Maria shares her journey from leading engineering teams at Microsoft, Google, and Yahoo to launching an AI company purpose-built for restaurants. She discusses how her team is building “full-modality” AI—technology that can see, hear, and understand context—to bring efficiency, accuracy, and empathy to restaurant operations. The conversation dives into the complexity of restaurant challenges, from order accuracy to guest experience, and how AI can serve as an empowering teammate rather than a cold automation tool. Throughout, Maria emphasizes that the future of restaurant technology lies in connection—between humans and machines, data and hospitality, and innovation and care. Episode links: Subscribe to Palona on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCknBp0bKdgw4P9SmrxfdrWQ Visit Palona Oline: https://palona.ai/ Connect with Maria Zhang: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mariarenhuizhang Visit ClearCOGS Online: https://clearcogs.com Connect with Matt Wampler: https://www.linkedin.com/in/matthewjwampler 00:00 Intro 00:51 Welcome, Maria Zhang! 01:41 Maria's tech background 04:51 Technology company processes 06:39 Transition to restaurant technology 07:47 Palona AI 10:17 Maria's go-to dish to cook 11:12 Tech-driven vs problem-driven 16:35 Dominating Voice AI 19:11 The common language that ties their tech together 22:05 Understanding LLM's 24:33 The pace of AI acceleration 26:25 Humans training AI vs AI training humans 27:02 Building a product with changing infrastructure 28:58 Evolution of edge computing 29:56 Experimenting on the restaurant technology industry 31:52 Outro

In this episode of the Restaurant AI Podcast, host Matt Wampler, Co-Founder and CEO of ClearCOGS, sits down with Avi Goren, Co-Founder and CEO of Marqii — a leading platform helping restaurants manage their digital presence and reputation. Together, they unpack how AI and automation are reshaping discoverability in hospitality, from SEO and generative search to the role of accurate listings, reviews, and menus across every online channel. Avi shares insights from Marqii’s latest research showing where AI chatbots like ChatGPT, Gemini, and Perplexity pull restaurant data, why consistency across listings still drives local SEO, and how AI-powered review responses can enhance guest engagement without losing the human touch. The conversation explores open vs. closed systems, the future of restaurant tech consolidation, and why true digital hospitality means blending technology with authenticity. Throughout, Avi emphasizes that while AI can streamline and scale a brand’s online presence, great restaurants — and great technology partners — always lead with hospitality. Episode Links: Visit Marqii online: https://www.marqii.com/ Connect with Avi on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/avigoren Visit ClearCOGS online: https://www.clearcogs.com/ Connect with Matt on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/matthewjwampler 00:00 Intro 01:18 Welcome, Avi Goren! 02:10 The Foundations of Being Found Online 05:15 The Problem with Inconsistent Menus Across Platforms 07:10 Marqii’s Role in Unifying Digital Presence 08:18 “Best” Searches and Review Scores in Google 09:55 Using Reviews to Improve Search Visibility 10:55 How Generative AI Search (ChatGPT, Gemini, Perplexity) Works 10:31 What AI Chatbots Pull From: Listings vs. Websites vs. Reviews 12:15 Why Listings and Websites Still Matter Most 14:51 Inputs and Outputs: Social Media vs. Foundational SEO 17:45 What AI Weighs More Than Traditional SEO 20:02 Open vs. Closed Search Systems Explained 20:36 Social Media Strategy: The Lottery Ticket Analogy 22:09 Authenticity, Reviews, and Real Restaurant Success 23:11 Can AI Help Us Find Hidden Gems Like Small BBQ Spots? 26:16 How to Influence Reviews Without “Faking” It 27:44 Why You Should Mention LTOs in Review Replies 29:14 How Marqii Uses Claude AI to Automate Review Responses 33:24 Writing Prompts and Maintaining Brand Voice 34:48 How Marqii Scales Customization for 20,000+ Restaurants 38:09 Will Real Human Touch Still Matter in a Digital World? 42:52 How COVID Changed Restaurant Tech Priorities 46:33 Why Open APIs and Integrations Are the Future 48:20 Collaboration Over Competition in Restaurant Tech 49:27 What Drove Marqii’s Growth to 20,000 Restaurants 53:25 The Turning Point: From Three Employees to 55+ 54:53 Rebuilding Marqii’s Product for Customization 55:55 Staying Focused on Hospitality, Not Just Tech 57:52 What Keeps Avi Up at Night: Staying Ahead of the Industry 58:56 Where the Puck Is Going: Marqii’s Roadmap 59:30 AI Analytics, Data Insights & the Future of Discoverability 1:00:45 Closing Thoughts: Human Hospitality in a Digital Age

In this episode of the Restaurant AI Podcast, hosts Matt Wampler, Co-Founder and CEO of ClearCOGS, sits down with professional racing driver and entrepreneur Jacob “Jake” Williamson, Co-Founder of GP Lab Motorsport and owner of multiple businesses spanning motorsports, catering, and more. Together, they explore the fascinating overlap between data-driven decision-making and instinct — from how predictive analytics shape Formula racing to how gut feel still defines performance behind the wheel. Jake shares how simulators, telemetry, and AI eye-tracking are transforming driver training and how lessons from the racetrack apply to running small businesses. The conversation dives into the evolution of motorsport accessibility, the power of content and storytelling in modern team building, and what AI-driven coaching could look like in the near future. Throughout, Jake emphasizes that while technology can predict, measure, and refine performance, true excellence still comes from human intuition, preparation, and the relentless drive to push beyond what the data says is possible. Episode Links: Connect with Jacob Williamson: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jacob-williamson-a6012782 Visit GP Lab online: https://gplab.us/ Connect with Matt on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/matthewjwampler Visit ClearCOGS online: https://www.clearcogs.com 00:00 Intro 01:41 Welcome, Jacob Williamson! 02:00 F1 as predictive analytics 04:38 Talent vs training 07:22 Risk taking, simulators and AI vision training 13:00 How data prepares drivers 16:52 Driver skill vs car quality 20:30 Analyzing data in real-time 22:33 Transition from race car driver to business owner 25:57 GP Lab Motorsports 30:34 Sponsorships, media and the Drive to Survive effect 34:05 From flying to racing 36:38 Social media strategy for racing teams 39:07 Making motorsports accessible 43:54 AI and the future of food service 48:00 Mental capacity training and proactive thinking 50:34 Analytics vs instinct on the track 53:28 AI's influence on workflows 56:13 AI's impact on the future of racing 57:55 Democratizing talent discovery 59:51 The draw of racing 1:08:03 What to know about sponsoring a race car 1:11:32 Outro

In this episode of the Restaurant AI Podcast, hosts Matt Wampler, Co-Founder and CEO of ClearCOGS, and Erin Levzow, an award-winning marketing innovator whose career spans brands like Wingstop, Del Taco, and the Museum of Ice Cream, dive deep into how AI and data are redefining restaurant marketing. From her start in Las Vegas casinos to leading marketing for national restaurant brands, Erin shares how hospitality’s most competitive environments taught her to think like a technologist. She explains how restaurants can move beyond segmentation to true one-to-one marketing, where every guest interaction is informed by behavior, timing, and intent. The discussion unpacks the rise of AI-powered multivariable testing, the importance of storytelling and emotional intelligence in modern marketing, and how women in leadership bring fresh perspective to brand strategy. Erin and Matt also explore the ethics of automation, the future of voice AI in drive-thrus, and why every modern CMO must be part data scientist, part storyteller. Throughout, Erin emphasizes one key message: technology will keep changing but continuous learning, authenticity, and empathy will always drive the most meaningful connections between brands and guests. Episode Links: Listen to Bite-Sized & Bossy: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/bite-sized-bossy/id1780866645 Connect with Matt on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/matthewjwampler Visit ClearCOGS: https://www.clearcogs.com 00:00 Intro 01:30 Welcome, Erin Levzow! 02:00 Marketing - Then and now 07:55 The future of marketing 09:50 Marketing as a franchisee 12:17 Maximizing the capabilities of restaurant marketing 14:20 Personalization 15:39 AI in restaurant marketing 17:32 AI for multivariable testing 20:26 Know the story you’re telling 23:35 Women in marketing 24:55 The new generation of marketers 26:22 The Mecca of marketing 29:38 “The jam study” 32:00 The danger of turning AI loose 37:40 AI's impact on the restaurant industry 42:00 AI's Role in Marketing and Customer Interaction 47:20 Tech consolidation 50:55 Data-focused approach and future-thinking 52:20 Byte-Sized & Bossy podcast 1:01:00 Advice for aspiring female executives 1:03:35 Authenticity in the workplace 1:08:34 Why aren't there more women founders? 1:10:30 Manifesting confidence 1:12:50 Take the risk 1:16:14 Outro

In this episode of the Restaurant AI Podcast, Matt Wampler, Co-Founder and CEO of ClearCOGS, sits down with Phil Crawford, Global Head of Food and Beverage at Adyen. Known for his leadership at Shake Shack and CKE before moving into fintech, Phil shares why he made the jump from running restaurant tech to rethinking payments on a global scale. They dive into how AI is already reshaping payment optimization, fraud prevention, and customer insights, and why the “absence of problems” may be the truest measure of success. Phil also breaks down the reality behind loyalty programs, how smaller brands often outpace legacy chains in adopting AI, and why CTOs should stop chasing shiny AI solutions and instead focus on building open, flexible systems that can adapt as the technology evolves. From blockchain buzz to drive-thru automation, this wide-ranging conversation offers a candid look at the future of restaurant payments, the challenges of ROI, and what it really takes to make AI practical in hospitality. Episode Links: Connect with Phil on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/crawfordphil Learn more about Adyen: https://www.adyen.com Connect with Matt on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/matthewjwampler Visit ClearCOGS: https://www.clearcogs.com 00:00 Intro 01:55 Welcome, Phil Crawford 04:42 How payments have changed 09:41 How data affects customer retention 13:36 Aligning digital, marketing and IT teams 18:47 Viewing AI as a large organization vs an emerging brand 23:40 AI can write code more efficiently than humans 24:45 Planning your tech stack for an uncertain future 28:55 Maturity of the concept is more important than the size 32:13 Outcomes-based pricing 39:22 The third & fourth waves of AI 49:20 Restaurant brands entering technology space 53:20 Biggest strategic technology mistake 56:25 Utilizing Ai as opportunistic vs strategic 1:02:11 Advice AI strategy 1:03:53 Personal AI tips 1:05:15 Outro

In this episode of the Restaurant AI Podcast, Matt Wampler, Co-Founder and CEO of ClearCOGS, sits down with Bill Lindsey, Partner and Co-Founder of COGS-Well. Bill’s journey started as a dishwasher at Farrell’s Ice Cream and took him through the Las Vegas Strip—where he learned operations on casino floors, lived through federal raids at the Stardust, and watched “learned intelligence” evolve into the systems we now call AI. With five decades spanning kitchens, casinos, and code, Bill reflects on the timeless problems of restaurants, why human resistance to change has always been the biggest obstacle to innovation, and how AI could finally remove friction from tasks as fundamental as counting a register or tracking inventory. He also shares how Cogs-Well rethought recipe logic, the role of “workarounds” in building great software, and why the most powerful technology lessons come from lived experience. This wide-ranging conversation blends history, war stories, and practical insights—showing how yesterday’s lessons can prepare restaurants to adopt AI with clarity, creativity, and control. Episode Links: Connect with Bill on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bill-lindsey775 Learn more about COGS-Well: https://www.cogs-well.com/ Connect with Matt on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/matthewjwampler Visit ClearCOGS: https://www.clearcogs.com 00:00 Intro 01:53 Welcome, Bill Lindsey! 03:00 Bill's vast history with restaurant technology 05:40 AI's role in solving human problems 09:30 Bill's history with restaurant accounting 12:21 From Farrell's Ice Cream Parlour to Las Vegas 15:49 Las Vegas in the '70s 18:40 Handling money issues for Vegas casinos 22:30 Bill's involvement in the real life 'Casino' 27:30 The tech stack of the 1970's 32:50 AI bringing us back to simpler technology 36:20 Learned intelligence vs artificial intelligence 42:51 COGS-Well 54:54 Understanding programming through business logic 1:03:40 The future of back-of-house software 1:09:11 What do you want from AI 1:12:20 Building back-of-house software 1:31:45 The future of the restaurant industry 1:34:16 Solving the money issue 1:35:17 Outro

In this episode of the Restaurant AI Podcast, Matt Wampler, Co-Founder and CEO of ClearCOGS, sits down with Joe Guszkowski, Senior Editor at Restaurant Business. With years of experience reporting on the industry’s biggest shifts, Joe offers a journalist’s perspective on how artificial intelligence is reshaping restaurants—from the back office to the front of house. He unpacks where AI is making a real difference today, the challenges operators face in separating hype from practical value, and why thoughtful adoption will be key to long-term success. Joe also discusses the human side of AI: how technology can enhance creativity, empower teams, and allow restaurants to better tell their own stories in a crowded marketplace. This conversation is both a reality check and a roadmap—showing how operators, technologists, and storytellers can work together to ensure AI strengthens the restaurant experience rather than diluting it. Episode Links: Read Joe’s reporting at Restaurant Business: https://www.restaurantbusinessonline.com/ Connect with Joe on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joe-guszkowski-a3512a49 Connect with Matt on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/matthewjwampler Visit ClearCOGS: https://www.clearcogs.com 00:00 Intro 01:30 Restaurant Business' new podcast series on AI 05:00 The people behind the technology 07:00 Democratizing AI 13:41 Restaurant technology is fashion 16:07 AI technology is iterative 20:45 The AI drive-thru 24:40 Restaurant technology moves too slow 30:40 Predictive analytics 33:38 Embracing AI technology in restaurants 37:33 How AI gets implemented 42:00 The benefits of AI to restaurant owners 48:18 Creating a more sustainable industry 51:08 Franchisor benefits from higher prices 53:00 The next 5-10 years 57:38 AI capabilities 1:00:40 Restaurant reporting 1:02:51 The business of restaurants 1:06:11 Outro

In this episode of the Restaurant AI Podcast, Matt Wampler, Co-Founder and CEO of ClearCOGS, welcomes Troy Hooper, CEO of Hot Palette America and Pepper Lunch. With a career spanning three decades across kitchens, consulting, and global brand leadership, Troy offers a masterclass in how to scale an international concept without losing its soul. He shares the lessons learned from guiding Pepper Lunch’s North American expansion, where authenticity is the North Star, franchisees are true partners in innovation, and technology is leveraged to strengthen—not replace—the human connection. From rethinking loyalty beyond points, to using data-driven engagement that still “acts like a human,” Troy reveals how Pepper Lunch is combining modern tools with timeless hospitality values. Pepper Lunch’s story illustrates a broader blueprint for the industry: scale rooted in cultural integrity, collaboration as a growth engine, and guest experiences designed to surprise and endure. Episode Links: Connect with Troy on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jtroyhooper Learn more about Pepper Lunch: https://pepperlunch.com Connect with Matt on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/matthewjwampler Visit ClearCOGS: https://www.clearcogs.com 00:00 Intro 01:26 Welcome Troy Hooper 04:09 Troy's background and pivoting to the restaurant industry 13:33 The purpose of restaurant turnarounds 14:40 Restaurants struggling to stay current 15:40 Hunger for development 17:04 The franchise system 19:10 What makes a good consultant 25:35 The value of social media to the consulting world 30:17 Restaurants are. a family 32:37 Signing the right operator 35:33 Pepper Lunch 44:27 People crave authenticity 46:45 Restaurant kiosks and technology 53:05 The truth about loyalty programs 57:52 Every stakeholder has a voice 1:03:16 Innovative restaurant technology 1:05:48 First thing we bring you is a smile 1:08:15 The role of AI in restaurant hospitality 1:23:10 Outro

In this episode of the Restaurant AI Podcast, Matt Wampler, Co-Founder and CEO of ClearCOGS, sits down with Campbell Brown, Co-Founder and CEO of PredictHQ, to explore how artificial intelligence and real-world event data are transforming restaurant forecasting and operations. Campbell shares the story of building PredictHQ from its early days in New Zealand to becoming the “demand intelligence” engine for global brands like Chipotle, Domino’s, and Wingstop. He explains how everything from Taylor Swift concerts to dental conventions can shift millions in restaurant sales—and why operators must move beyond anecdotal knowledge to data-driven foresight. The conversation dives into the complexity of cleaning and standardizing event data, why explainability builds trust in AI-driven forecasts, and how restaurants can operationalize demand insights to optimize staffing, inventory, and guest experience. Campbell also paints a picture of what’s next: prescriptive AI that not only forecasts surges but recommends the exact actions to capture them. From concerts and weather to strikes and sports, Campbell reveals how PredictHQ is helping restaurants and retailers embrace “real-world aware AI” to navigate demand volatility and unlock billions in value. Episode Links: - Connect with Campbell on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/campbellbrown - Learn more about PredictHQ: https://www.predicthq.com - Follow PredictHQ on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/predicthq - Connect with Matt on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/matthewjwampler - Visit ClearCOGS: https://www.clearcogs.com/ 00:00 Intro 01:41 Welcome, Campbell Brown! 02:00 The Taylor Swift Effect 04:00 The major categories of PredictHQ 05:02 The origin of PredictHQ 09:21 PredictHQ's first customer 11:00 Taking on Google early on 12:55 Getting the right data is a battle itself 14:15 Retail forecasting 17:00 Explaining the business of foresight 18:30 One-off events and their impact 21:20 The benefits of foresight for the restaurant industry 22:20 Operationalizing data forecasting 24:54 Getting customers the right data 28:13 Prescriptive analytics 31:10 What it takes to build PredictHQ 33:46 The new events impacting demand 34:29 Weird events that impact demand 35:50 How much of demand can be explained 37:40 The operator's impact 40:15 PredictHQ vs LLM's 45:09 The difficulty in gathering data 46:52 Implementing data forecasting from the customer side 48:23 External features 50:34 Utilization and management 53:57 The future of PredictHQ 55:37 Real world AI 1:00:04 Why data forecasting is inevitable 1:01:54 Outro

In this episode of the Restaurant AI Podcast, Matt Wampler, CEO and Co-Founder of ClearCOGS, sits down with Carl Orsbourn, Co-Author of Delivering the Digital Restaurant, Host, The Digital Restaurant Podcast, SVP, Invisible AI, to explore how artificial intelligence and digital transformation are reshaping the restaurant industry. Carl shares the story behind writing Delivering the Digital Restaurant during the pandemic, why his follow-up book focuses on the long game of digital maturity, and how restaurants can shift from treating technology as a cost center to seeing it as a driver of top-line growth. He explains why the most powerful applications of AI will go beyond cutting costs to improving menu design, loyalty, and guest personalization—creating restaurant experiences as tailored as an Amazon homepage. The conversation dives into the challenges of fragmented tech stacks, the risks of “AI washing” in SaaS solutions, and the importance of building a platform mindset that connects data silos across the business. Carl also paints a picture of the near future—where personalized AI agents help guests order, computer vision enhances operations, and GMs are freed to spend more time with their teams and guests. From the early days of Kitchen United to advising enterprises on AI adoption today, Carl brings a candid and practical perspective on how operators can separate hype from reality and take purposeful steps toward building digitally mature, AI-powered restaurants. Links: Connect with Carl on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/carlorsbourn Visit Invisible Technologies: https://www.invisible.co/ Buy Carl's books: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Carl-Orsbourn/author/B099LVTD6B?ref=ap_rdr&isDramIntegrated=true&shoppingPortalEnabled=true Connect with Matt on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/matthewjwampler Visit ClearCOGS: https://www.clearcogs.com/ 00:00 Intro 02:14 Welcome Carl Orsbourn 02:33 Writing The Digital Restaurant book series 07:20 The restaurant industry pre-pandemic 11:40 The industry after embracing AI technology 14:22 Technology and the customer experience 16:48 Technology to inform decision-making 23:09 Conditioning consumers' buying decisions 26:03 Algorithms and our true intention 29:30 Working with LLM's 34:23 Evolving SaaS tech stack 36:59 First-mover advantage to adopting tech early 44:00 LLM's ruling the world 49:03 Base technology is getting better 52:45 Applying AI to restaurant brands 56:06 Optimism about the future of AI 58:28 Third book on the way? 58:58 Bringing AI into an organization 1:01:48 Shifting the relationship with technology 1:03:26 What does the future look like? 1:05:26 Outro

In this episode of the Restaurant AI Podcast, Matt Wampler, CEO and Co-Founder of ClearCOGS, sits down with Brandon Barton, CEO of Bite, to explore how kiosk ordering, AI, and deep restaurant experience are shaping the future of guest interactions. Brandon shares his 25-year journey from bussing tables in Brooklyn to running the dining room at a Danny Meyer restaurant, making the leap to restaurant tech at Avero, and eventually leading Bite—a software company bringing “e-commerce on a touchscreen” into restaurants nationwide. He explains why Bite focuses on software over hardware, how kiosk ordering can be as (or more) hospitable than face-to-face, and why technology should be an additive part of the guest experience, not a replacement for it. They dive into how AI-driven recommendations can adapt in real time to weather, regional trends, and guest behavior, the concept of “unified guest identification,” and why hospitality at scale often comes down to simple gestures—like giving away fries when you don’t have to. Brandon also shares his perspective on the fractured state of restaurant technology, why costs dropping will lead to more niche players (not fewer), and the importance of working with tech leaders who have restaurant roots. From hands-on stories about catching escaped roosters to forward-looking ideas about AI agents and data co-ops, this conversation blends humor, operational wisdom, and a candid look at the next wave of restaurant technology. Links: Bite: https://www.getbite.com ClearCOGS:⁠ https://www.clearcogs.com/⁠ Connect with Brandon on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brandoncbarton Connect with Matt on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/matthewjwampler/ 00:00 Intro 02:25 Welcome Brandon Barton 03:03 Understanding the business of kiosks in restaurants 7:00 Why kiosks work for an ordering experience 10:55 Point of sale in 2025 14:46 Technology renaissance in the restaurant industry 19:13 Brandon's background in technology 23:13 Remaining a restaurant person despite a pivot to technology 27:16 Brandon's calling is to help restaurants embrace technology 29:50 The future of ordering and the guest experience 37:26 The psychology of kiosk ordering 40:05 Using AI to help you order 41:13 The future of the restaurant technology industry 44:34 Restaurant brands building technology 47:15 Ex-restaurant people make better technology 49:07 Relationship between technology and restaurants 52:33 What Bite is doing with AI today 55:40 Learning about how people order 57:25 The best conversations about kiosks 58:40 Advice for choosing technology 1:01:08 Best curated customer experience 1:01:30 Favorite wine 1:01:33 Favorite LLM 1:02:06 Advice for restaurant technology companies 1:02:27 The future for Bite 1:02:44 Outro

In this episode of the Restaurant AI Podcast, Matt Wampler, CEO and Co-Founder of ClearCOGS, sits down with Niko Papademetriou, Co-Founder of Qu POS, to trace his unconventional path from investment banking to owning a massive Dupont Circle restaurant, and eventually leading growth at one of the industry’s top enterprise POS providers. Niko shares candid stories from the trenches of restaurant ownership—navigating failing equipment, oversized kitchens, payroll pressure, and learning to become a “Swiss Army knife” operator. He explains how those hard-won lessons now inform his approach to building enterprise-grade technology that can scale securely while adapting to the nuanced needs of individual operators. They dive into why Qu started with large multi-unit chains instead of independents, how AI is reshaping both product development and internal workflows, and why security and stability should be treated as areas for innovation rather than obstacles to it. Niko also talks about using tools like Gong to capture and share critical customer insights, the balancing act between rapid product releases and reliability, and his bullish outlook on AI as the connective tissue between scalable platforms and personalized experiences. From hard-earned lessons in the trenches to big-picture thinking on where restaurant tech is headed, this episode packs battle-tested wisdom with forward-looking insights you can act on. Episode Links: Qu POS: https://www.qubeyond.com/ Connect with Niko: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nikopapademetriou/ ClearCOGS: https://www.clearcogs.com/ Connect with Matt on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/matthewjwampler/ 00:00 Intro 02:01 Niko's background and favorite pizza 07:57 From investment banking to technology 14:25 Jimmy Johns in the Maryland/D.C. area 15:33 Starting a restaurant from scratch 24:35 What he learned from owning a restaurant 29:40 Transitioning to the technology space 36:20 Building for independence / Building for enterprise 40:18 Deploying AI internally 46:13 Security and reliability are contradictory to innovation 49:20 Best outputs on the product side 54:52 "Unifying commerce platform" 58:40 What sets Qu apart from other POS products 1:00:20 Best in class software vs All in one 1:07:40 AI-powered POS of the future 1:12:20 "Do more with the same." 1:13:18 AI in kitchen displays 1:15:25 How today's technology would've impacted Niko's first restaurant 1:17:41 Outro

In this episode of the Restaurant AI Podcast, Matt Wampler, CEO and Co-Founder of ClearCOGS, sits down with Geoff Alexander, CEO of Wow Bao, to unpack the remarkable story of how a small fast-casual concept became a national brand available in 15,000 grocery stores, 500 hot vending machines, and dozens of non-traditional locations—all without traditional funding. Geoff shares how he took over Wow Bao with three underperforming units and turned it around by embracing early technology adoption, from kiosks and online ordering in 2010 to experimenting with biometrics, blockchain, and AI-powered production planning. He explains why limited capital forced him to innovate—and how that mindset laid the groundwork for an omnichannel empire that blurs the lines between restaurant, retail, and CPG. They dive into Geoff’s philosophy on partnering with startups, the risks and rewards of being a first mover, and how operators can build better tech by giving better feedback. Geoff also discusses how Wow Bao uses its brick-and-mortar footprint to test products that scale instantly to thousands of locations—a key advantage few brands can claim. Whether you're an operator looking for new growth channels or a tech founder trying to break into foodservice, this episode is packed with insights on how to build big with limited resources, a clear vision, and the right partners. Links: Visit Wow Bao: https://www.wowbao.com/ Connect with Matt on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/matthewjwampler/ Connect with Geoff: https://www.linkedin.com/in/geoffalex/ Visit ClearCOGS: https://www.clearcogs.com/ 00:00 Intro 02:45 Introduction to Wow Bao 04:25 Geoff's background with Wow Bao 10:40 Is Wow Bao a restaurant brand or a food brand? 11:30 Restaurant product vs frozen product 12:50 Turning around a struggling concept 15:18 Mastering online ordering before everyone else 17:00 Learning the Chicago market with food trucks 19:45 Wow Bao's brick and mortar history 21:30 Taking a swing at online ordering due to frustration 24:53 Benefits of adopting technology early 27:14 The problem with restaurant technology 28:20 The new wave of restaurant people leading technology 30:06 Getting in early on self-ordering kiosks 34:45 Finding the right partners 35:21 Creating Venmo before Venmo existed 38:05 Working with technology partners 40:25 The benefit of not having access to capital 45:20 "Every vertical requires attention" 47:08 The philosophy of different verticals 55:42 Geoff's relationship with technology partners 1:00:12 Operators getting involved with technology benefits the industry 1:02:45 The evolution of technology and benefits of AI 1:12:17 Technology can enhance hospitality 1:15:20 The key to success for CPG and ensuring quality 1:16:25 "I don't pull the plug on anything" 1:18:17 Advice for restaurant turnarounds 1:20:05 Outro

In this episode of the Restaurant AI podcast, Matt Wampler, CEO and Co-Founder of ClearCOGS, sits down with Danny Klein, Editorial Director of QSR Magazine, for a wide-ranging conversation on the evolving role of journalism in the restaurant industry, the rise of AI-powered tools, and the importance of trust in a saturated media landscape. Danny shares his unexpected journey from sports writing to restaurant trade journalism, how QSR Magazine builds and protects editorial trust, and what it means to serve a B2B audience that values data over dining reviews. The two dive into the challenges and opportunities of AI in journalism, including QSR's new AI-powered internal search tool and the shifting role of editors in the "truth-telling economy"—where brand trust and personal voice matter more than ever. They also explore the tension between technology and hospitality in restaurants, what defines a winning brand in today’s landscape of falling traffic and digital overload, and why experience still drives loyalty in a post-COVID, omnichannel restaurant world. From Texas Roadhouse's smart tech moves to the dangers of overbuilding, this episode delivers real insights for operators, marketers, and media professionals alike. Links: QSR Magazine: https://www.qsrmagazine.com/ Connect with Danny: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dannyklein14/ Listen to QSR Uncut: https://www.qsrmagazine.com/podcast/ ClearCOGS: https://www.clearcogs.com/ Connect with Matt on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/matthewjwampler/ 00:00 Intro 02:14 Danny's introduction to restaurant journalism 08:20 "We're not food writers" 12:15 The business behind food 16:40 What is AI doing to journalism? 21:00 Community building and the future of the Editor role 23:54 The future of brands and publishing companies 27:00 LinkedIn's algorithm 31:55 The future of human influence on AI 35:26 The truth-telling economy 42:58 The future of writing 50:14 Which facts are true? 58:57 Technology and hospitality in restaurants 1:05:55 Experiential restaurants vs technology 1:11:39 Restaurants buying too much technology or the wrong technology? 1:15:15 Where AI is headed in the restaurant industry 1:18:26 Loyalty programs 1:20:30 The importance of technology vendors 1:23:52 Drone delivery 1:24:10 Smartest source of truth on the restaurant industry 1:25:00 Robotic kitchens or humans running automation 1:25:30 The best restaurant CEO 1:28:00 The most interesting topic to Danny 1:31:00 Intro

Live from the floor of the 2025 National Restaurant Association Show, Restaurant AI host Matt Wampler sits down with Michael Ungaro, third-generation owner and visionary behind the iconic San Pedro Fish Market. In this wide-ranging and entertaining conversation, Michael shares how a family-run seafood operation turned into a cultural phenomenon—with over 3,000 seats, a hit streaming series, and a savvy embrace of digital innovation. From the surprising power of Facebook comments to battling IP theft with strategy, Michael opens up about what it really takes to bring a legacy business into the future. They dive into the challenges of generational transition, the importance of narrative in hospitality, and how a temporary COVID setup turned into a masterclass in tech-enabled guest experience. Links: San Pedro Fish Market: https://www.sanpedrofish.com/ Connect with Michael: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mikeungaro Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@sanPedroFish Listen to the Fi$H Factor podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/fi%24h-factor-with-mike-ungaro/id1811844101 Visit ClearCOGS: https://www.clearcogs.com/ Connect with Matt on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/matthewjwampler/ 00:00 Intro 00:30 Welcome Michael Ungaro 01:21 Embracing technology 03:13 Leaning on people to solve problems 04:40 Intellectual property 05:38 Running a 70 year-old brand 08:34 Kings of Fish TV Show 09:20 "We're not a restaurant anymore" 10:45 Why the fourth generation of a business is the hardest 12:55 Advice for running a family business 14:20 Is Reality TV "real"? 17:19 Getting information from customers 19:04 The 100th anniversary of San Pedro Fish Market 20:15 Outro

In this thought-provoking episode of the Restaurant AI Podcast, Matt Wampler sits down with Rudy Miick, Founder and President of The Miick Companies, for a deep dive into what makes restaurant culture truly transformative—and how technology fits into the equation. With over four decades of experience shaping restaurant brands from the inside out, Rudy shares why restaurants are more than food and service—they’re leadership laboratories, soul-restoring spaces, and the stage for daily human evolution. The conversation challenges the conventional view of operations, blending awareness, emotional intelligence, and data-driven coaching into a new vision for sustainable profitability and human-first leadership. They explore how to architect every touchpoint—sound, smell, eye contact—to deliver not just meals, but moments. Rudy also breaks down how to quantify the unquantifiable, replacing punitive management with a culture of daily coaching and radical positivity. Links: The Miick Companies Connect with Rudy Miick on LinkedIn ClearCOGS Connect with Matt on LinkedIn 00:00 Intro 01:31 Evolving through life 04:25 Nature vs nurture 09:18 Restaurants are “leadership labs" 14:13 Equipping everyone to rise to the top 19:45 The age-old restaurant model is dead 23:50 Awakeness and emotional intelligence as operational assets 27:07 The senses of a great restaurant 30:00 The power of sound, smell, and vibe 33:00 Crafting "the pitch" of a great restaurant 39:50 Rudy's passion for the hospitality industry 47:00 Rudy's greatest dining experience 51:19 Where technology makes sense in the restaurant industry 54:02 Mapping out human vs tech-driven touchpoints in the guest experience 1:00:25 Culture driving the brand experience 1:03:00 What today’s tech companies are getting wrong and what restaurants really need 1:08:11 Turning prime cost tracking into a daily discipline 1:10:33 The arithmetic of the restaurant business 1:14:15 A new model of leadership: coaching to the positive in real-time 1:18:30 Using AI to free up managers to be people-first leaders 1:22:07 Rudy's hope for the restaurant industry 1:24:30 Outro

In this episode of the Restaurant AI Podcast, Matt sits down with Justin Foster, Co-Founder and CRO of Incept AI, for a deep and technical dive into the future of Voice AI in restaurants, particularly in the drive-thru environment. With years of experience in both restaurants and AI, Justin brings rare insight into what it really takes to build voice technology that works in the chaotic, noisy world of restaurant operations. Matt presses Justin on the tough questions—what’s real, what’s hype, and why so many voice AI companies are entering the space now. Key Topics Covered: The evolution of voice AI from “tree-and-branch” rule-based systems to large language models (LLMs) Why the McDonald’s Apprente experiment failed—and what’s changed since The four layers of voice AI: raw audio, transcription, intent processing, and TTS The critical role of clean audio input and why denoising is the bottleneck How hardware, digital base stations, and cloud-based audio ML interact Why latency and naturalness in conversations are essential to guest experience The hidden cost of relying on humans-in-the-loop to "fix" broken AI orders Why scaling Voice AI requires retraining, not just installing software How economics, accuracy, and guest trust define the winners in this space Predictions about moving from cloud to on-prem edge computing in the next 3–5 years The future of voice AI in training, loyalty, upselling, and personalized service Episode Links: Visit Incept AI Online: https://www.incept.ai/ Connect with Justin on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/justinfoster/ Visit ClearCOGS Online: https://www.clearcogs.com/ Connect with Matt on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/matthewjwampler/ 00:00 Intro 01:48 Voice AI, explained 03:37 Early innovations in Voice AI 7:45 Challenges of Voice AI 13:05 Latency in Voice AI 15:10 Walkthrough on Voice AI in a drive-thru 19:58 The critical role of clean audio input 24:36 Minimizing mistakes and maximizing accuracy 28:50 Foundation model advancements 30:46 Moving from Cloud to On-Prem 32:08 Model training and differentiation 37:30 Why purchasers are wary of Voice AI 46:57 Robotic vs human interractions 49:14 Which voices do humans prefer? 51:08 The economics of Voice AI 58:17 Do customers recognize Voice AI? 1:01:17 The future of Voice AI 1:06:57 Impact on minimum wage employment 1:07:54 The restaurant industry is resistant to change 1:08:49 Weirdest moments of Voice AI 1:09:47 How it all gets stitched together 1:13:58 Authenticity and regional dialect 14:55 Accuracy in Voice AI and non-Voice AI 1:18:33 Justin's passion for the technology 1:21:57 Contact Justin and Outro