Tech Bites

The start of the year is always a good time to make a plan for your career and look at what’s viable right now in the industry. If you’re looking to make a move or pivot your career, this episode of Tech Bites is for you. Host Jennifer Leuzzi talks with Alice Cheng , CEO and Founder of Culinary Agents , about current open positions, their new Marketplace, and how to build new skills for your new j...

Meet the newest and youngest talent of the food world from the 2021 Forbes Under 30 list. On this episode of Tech Bites, host Jennifer Leuzzi talks with Forbes writer Chloe Sorvino , along with two of this year’s winners: Michael Robinov, co-founder of Farm To People , and Jesse Szewczyk , food writer and author of the cookbook, Tasty Pride . The 10th annual list identifies and applauds young inno...

Following Tech Bites tradition, the last show of the year is a look into the future. Tech Bites host Jennifer Leuzzi talks with Vaughn Tan , a London-based strategy consultant, author, and professor at University College London’s School of Management about his predictions for 2021. He specializes in designing organizations that are resilient to and benefit from uncertainty and has spent over a dec...

The penultimate episode of 2020 is a look back at this most tumultuous pandemic year with the founders of two restaurant tech businesses. Returning guests Krystle Mobayeni, founder and CEO BentoBox , and Xavier Mariezcurrena, co-founder of ChouxBox , talk about how their companies and their customers in the hospitality industry worked to survive through the ongoing challenges of the COVID-19 pande...

For restaurants, food producers, and farmers, managing food waste is key to increasing slim profit-margins. Decreasing food waste in our global food system is crucial to achieving sustainability for people and the planet. On this episode of Tech Bites, host Jennifer Leuzzi talks with two different tech companies attacking the food waste sustainability problems in very different ways, that ultimate...

Looking to volunteer at a non-profit to create change, support your community and fight racial inequality? There’s an app for that. On this episode of Tech Bites, host Jennifer Leuzzi talks with Spicy Green Book founder and CEO Danilo Baston, about building a international directory of Black-owned businesses. The volunteer staff includes photographers, designers and project managers, allowing SGB...

On this episode of Tech Bites, host Jennifer Leuzzi checks in with returning guests Chris Rawley and Austin Maness of Harvest Returns , the crowdfunding platform for farms. How have things been growing since their first appearance on Episode 168? Since the pandemic, the business has focused on two verticals, indoor farming and regenerative agriculture. Joining the conversation is Kevin Muno of Pas...

How has the COVID-19 pandemic has affected our current global food systems? And how can we fix it? MIT’s 12th annual Sustainability Summit, “Food for Thought: Leveraging Food for a Sustainable Future ," aims to look at ways we can collectively improve food access and equity. The MBA student-led virtual event, taking place this November, will explore how innovations are changing the way the world p...

Could a beer save the planet and feed the world? Every year, 1.3 billion tonnes of food produced for human consumption is lost and wasted. A staggering quaintly of food that could easily feed the 840 million people who are hungry. The UN designated September 29th as International Awareness Day of Food Loss and Waste to grow awareness and inspire action. Toast Ale and Interboro Ales & Spirits h...

Smart Kitchen Summit 2020 is going virtual. Like so many events this year, the global pandemic has forced an evolution from in-person to online. Is the food tech world better positioned to go virtual? On this episode of Tech Bites, host Jennifer Leuzzi talks with The Spoon publisher Michael Wolf about the Smart Kitchen Summit 2020 and how they plan to execute the first ever worldwide virtual event...

Will kids eat healthier if it’s a game? Can another digital platform be successful at teaching kids about good food? On this episode of Tech Bites  host Jennifer Leuzzi talks with returning guest Julia Olayanju , founder of YScooks , a platform that employs technology to educate and inspire student to make healthier and sustainable dining choices. In partnership with schools and libraries, YScooks...

Are you a food tech innovator running a startup that is working to tackle one of the urgent food system challenges facing us today? Maybe you’re working on shortened supply chains, food loss mitigation, accessible food e-comm or functional ingredients. Are you looking for global collaboration and top-notch mentorship to move your business forward? If you are, this show is for you. FoodBytes! Pitch...

With the global pandemic closing restaurants and keeping people at home, how do chefs serve up hospitality and stay connected to their customers? On this episode of Tech Bites talks with chefs about their pivot to online cooking classes and new business. Philip Speer of Comedor in Texas started Assembly. Kitchen . Franklin Becker in New York started 100Pleats.com . Both facilitate a live interacti...

The global pandemic has brought some aspects of life to a stand-still, while others have accelerated at incredible speeds. eCommerce has grown exponentially. Restaurants were on the uptrend in adopting technology to increase their business reach, now those trends have become essential survival tools almost overnight. On this episode of Tech Bites, host Jennifer Leuzzi talks with David Rusenko, Gen...

On June 26, 2020 the students of New York City’s Food & Finance High School graduated in an online ceremony. On this episode of Tech Bites, graduate Niyah Rivers produces a show for a look info the minds her fellow students Kayla Jenkins and Romeo Malpica, to hear their thoughts on their virtual graduation. Episode 211 of Tech Bites is made possible but the generosity of Square. In March, HRN...

In 2016, Janique Edwards moved to Brooklyn and wanted to find black-owned restaurants in her new neighborhood. Janique and Anthony (then boyfriend, now husband) had the idea to create the EatOkra app and launched the first version in 2017. People want to know who owns a business as they make their purchasing decisions. Reservation platforms and guides don’t give any information on ownership. And o...

On Friday March 13, 2020 the senior students of New York City’s Food and Finance High School got their senior sweaters. Part of the graduation traditions, they were scheduled to take their class photo on Monday. Before that could happen, NY announced all public schools closing on Monday, in response to the Coronavirus pandemic. Instead of gathering together for a commemorative picture, the school’...

The World's 50 Best Restaurants awards, has been a highlight of the elite hospitality world for the past 18 years, creating a real-time snapshot of best of global dinning. This year’s awards ceremony was set to take place in Belgium on June 2, 2020. With the onset of the global pandemic, and the urgent crisis it has created within the restaurant industry, 50 Best postponed the event and in its pla...

Information has never been more crucial to our collective livelihood and wellbeing than it is today. ESL Works, a startup dedicated to closing the workplace language gap, uses texting and SMS to deliver lessons to workers based around the actual tasks they do in restaurants.  In March 2020, they created StopCovid. Co in response to the pandemic, adding drills based on CDC and WHO guidelines for es...

Digital platforms connecting farmers directly to consumers has been a growing food tech trend these past few years. The Coronavirus pandemic has accelerated that growth exponentially and put these platforms front and center. People are cooking more at home while sheltering at home, and have a growing interest in the healthiest food. The significant disruption to the traditional food supply chain h...

It’s been a springtime tradition at Tech Bites, to do an episode on disconnecting from your tech as a counter point to our 24/7 digital lives. For the past several weeks, most of the world has been living indoors due to the Coronavirus pandemic, with no respite from our digital screens. In spite of being inside, life is not always - quiet. On this episode of Tech Bites, host Jennifer Leuzzi talks...

In March 2020 when Tender Greens was forced to downsize business due to California’s COVID-19 regulations, the Los Angeles-based company launched Grocery Boxes, boxes filled with fresh produce, pantry staples and home essentials that are available for delivery and/or pick up at all 27 California locations. The produce and products in the Grocery Boxes are sourced from local farmers and purveyors....

Restaurants serve relief as food banks with the Lee Initiative. Chef Edward Lee and Lindsay Ofcacek started the Lee Initiative two years ago as non-profit focused on mentorship for women chefs. Three weeks ago, it became a program to turn restaurants into food banks and relief centers. With the sponsorship of Makers Mark, restaurants across the country, like Nancy Silverton at Chi Spacca in LA, Do...

A collective of restaurant industry professionals have set a global initiative in motion to get funds into the hands of restaurants NOW as they are closing and loosing revenue due to the coronavirus COVID-19 crisis. A Dining Bond works like a savings bond, where you can purchase a "bond" at a value rate to be redeemed for face value at a future date. On this episode of Tech Bites, host Jennifer Le...

For more than 30 years, The James Beard Foundation’s mission has been to celebrate America's food culture making it more delicious, diverse, and sustainable for everyone. Today, the Foundation has launched a fund to provide micro-grants to independent food and beverage businesses in need, due to the COVID-19 pandemic. On this episode of Tech Bites, host Jennifer Leuzzi talks with Mitchell Davis, t...