Ben Leventhal

Ben Leventhal, founder of Blackbird Labs and co-founder of Eater and Resy, dives into his journey from blogging about NYC restaurants to launching impactful ventures. He shares how Eater became a significant voice in dining and the challenges faced while co-founding Resy. Discover how they pivoted their initial model to enhance restaurant profitability through innovative reservation solutions and partnerships, including a notable acquisition by American Express. Leventhal's insights highlight the dynamic relationship between technology and the culinary world.

In this discussion, Ben Leventhal, CEO of BlackBird and former founder of Resy and Eater, shares his entrepreneurial journey in food tech. He dives into his vision for transforming the restaurant experience and the importance of metrics versus feelings in defining success. Leventhal also contrasts 'wartime' and 'peacetime' leadership styles, emphasizing trust and communication. He offers insights on building effective teams, achieving product-market fit, and creating a thriving restaurant marketplace, all while stressing the importance of innovation and resilience.

Ben Leventhal, founder of Eater, Resy, and Blackbird, is a restaurant and hospitality builder focused on payments, loyalty, and tech. He discusses why current payment rails fail restaurants. He explains using crypto to enable ownership and low-friction loyalty without making restaurants deal with crypto. He also covers go-to-market strategies, hiring for restaurant love, and the realities of kitchen life.

Ben Leventhal, cofounder of Eater and Resy, dives into his latest venture, Blackbird, a loyalty program revolutionizing the restaurant experience. He shares insights on NYC's dynamic dining scene, revealing the community spirit of the Burger League. The conversation also touches on navigating hype in the restaurant industry, the challenges of modern dining culture, and the evolving landscape of food media and its impact on culinary narratives. Plus, there's a lively discussion on exciting new fall cookbooks celebrating global cuisines.

Ben Leventhal, co-founder of Eater and Resy, discusses the evolution of storytelling in the restaurant industry and introduces Blackbird Labs' FLY rewards system. The podcast explores the impact of web3 technology like blockchain on restaurant operations and the importance of technology integration for independent restaurants.

Ben Leventhal, founder and CEO of Blackbird and serial entrepreneur who launched Eater and Resy, talks restaurant tech and strategy. He explains Blackbird’s tap-to-check-in loyalty puck and staff perks. Payments, tokenized processing, and POS partnership hurdles come up. They debate reservations competition, DoorDash moves, and where premium restaurants can win.

Ben Leventhal, serial restaurateur and co-founder of Eater and Resy, shares his insights on blending traditional hospitality with modern technology. He emphasizes the crucial role of brand identity and storytelling in restaurants. Ben critiques conventional loyalty programs and introduces Blackbird, a platform redesigning guest engagement and loyalty. He discusses empowering restaurant staff and creating seamless guest experiences as essential components of successful dining. With a focus on personalized connections, he envisions a future where restaurants regain control over their relationships with customers.

Ben Leventhal, co-founder of Blackbird and former co-founder of Resi, joins Jesse Walden, a partner at Variant, to discuss how Blackbird is transforming restaurant loyalty with cryptocurrency. They share insights on the challenges in the restaurant industry, emphasizing the need for direct customer engagement without middlemen. The duo explores the subtle integration of crypto in consumer apps and the innovative dual-token system of Blackbird. Personal anecdotes highlight their journeys and the potential of blockchain in revolutionizing loyalty programs.

Jesse Pollak, creator of Base, discusses team dynamics and strategic focus for the upcoming year. Ben Leventhal, founder/CEO of Blackbird, highlights tech's role in revolutionizing restaurant economics. Julian Holguin, CEO of Doodles, shares innovative storytelling in the Doodleverse. Yele Bademosi, cofounder/CEO of Onboard, explores blockchain's potential in Africa's entrepreneurial landscape. The conversation dives into community connections, decentralized economies, and the creative chaos of the crypto era.

Ben Leventhal, founder of popular restaurant brands, discusses building consumer-friendly crypto brands at Consensus. He prioritizes user experience over crypto jargon, shares advice for Web3 entrepreneurs, and explores utilizing blockchain for loyalty programs in restaurants. The episode emphasizes enhancing customer experiences and building trust through technology, transparent data opportunities, and navigating market fluctuations in the blockchain space.