Akash Kapoor, Founder and CEO of Curry Up Now and Mortar & Pestle Bar, shares his journey from turning a single food truck into a rapidly expanding global franchise. Akash discusses the challenges of scaling, lessons learned in franchising, and his vision for the future of fast-casual dining. Tune in for insights into the evolution of a brand blending bold flavors with innovative growth strategies!

About Curry Up Now

Kendall Whitaker from Zucker Investment Group (ZIG) dives into the vital role of real estate development and growth equity in the QSR space. Kendall explores the significance of location selection, the rise of modular build-out concepts, and effective capital structures for syndicating deals with investors. He shares ZIG’s approach to partnering with QSR operators, offering strategic support that allows franchisees to focus on growth while ZIG handles real estate complexities. From regional real estate trends to maximizing EBITDA in exit strategies, Kendall provides a roadmap for QSR success built on scalable, data-driven development solutions.

Mike LaRue is the VP of Franchise Development at Angry Chickz and a seasoned expert in the franchise space, particularly in the emerging brands sector. He joins Matt to share how emerging brands can strategically scale in a competitive market, the importance of storytelling in building a brand, and the 3 key considerations for successful brand development.

Dan Rowe is the Founder and CEO of Fransmart, one of the largest restaurant franchise development firms in the world. Fransmart specializes in finding the next big thing at the earliest stages and has sold over 5,000 franchises worldwide. He joins Matt to share his extensive experience in the franchise world, discussing the strategies for identifying and developing successful restaurant brands. Dan emphasizes the importance of authentic brand DNA, strong unit economics, and the right franchisee selection. Tune in for valuable advice for first-time franchisees!

Eddie Gonzalez is the Designated Broker at CRE8 Advisors and a seasoned expert in the retail brokerage industry. Eddie shares his journey from the hospitality sector to becoming a trusted name in Phoenix's competitive retail real estate market. He reveals how his background in hospitality has shaped his client-centric approach, emphasizing the importance of exceptional customer service and personalized attention. Tune in to hear Eddie's expert perspective on how creativity and a personalized touch can make all the difference in a dynamic and ever-changing market.

Julie Whelan, Global Head of Occupier Thought Leadership at CBRE, dives into CBRE's recent report on "Shaping Tomorrow's Cities". She discusses the future of American cities and the impact of remote work on the office market. She emphasizes the need for cities to transform into vibrant mixed-use environments that offer more than just office space. The report also highlights the different archetypes of cities and the challenges and opportunities they face.

Edie Weintraub advises new + established retail, hospitality, and restaurant brands on their real estate growth strategy.

Auren Hoffman, CEO of SafeGraph discusses the challenges of data matching and the solution provided by Placekey. He also explores the impact of AI and LLMs on data availability and pricing. Tune in to learn about the benefits of seamlessly joining disparate datasets.

Pepper Lunch is a fast-casual Japanese hot plate concept that originated in Tokyo, Japan, and is poised for explosive growth in North America over the coming years. Troy Hooper, CEO, and Dana Hathaitham, Director of Real Estate & Development, share their rapid expansion strategy involving both corporate and multi-unit franchise deals in the United States market. They discuss all the considerations to make when planning restaurant real estate growth from 5 to 500 locations. Tune in for their franchise, real estate, and hospitality expertise!

Shawn Walchef is the owner of Cali BBQ and Cali BBQ Media. He discusses the early challenges he faced as a restaurant owner, how he learned to use the internet and social media to his advantage, and shares his insights on building a successful restaurant brand in the digital age. Shawn emphasizes the importance of leveraging technology and storytelling to market a business effectively and the need for entrepreneurs to build their digital brand from the start.