The SaaS CFO · Ben Murray
podcastplaybookRestaurant 365 Raises $135M to Revolutionize Restaurant Operations
Source excerpt
About The SaaS CFOWelcome to The SaaS CFO Podcast! In today's episode, we have a special guest, Tony Smith, CEO and co-founder of Restaurant 365. Tony shares his journey from software consulting to founding a SaaS company and explains how his experience in the industry shaped his approach. He takes us through the inception of Restaurant 365, its product offerings, and the diverse range of restaurants they serve. Tony also discusses the challenges and milestones along the way, including the importance of self-funding and the dedication required to build a successful company. Join us as we dive into the fascinating story of Restaurant 365 and gain insights into their go-to-market strategy. Let's get started! Show Notes: [00:01:09] Resold Microsoft software, specialized in customization. Transitioned to focus on restaurant industry. [00:05:34] Balancing day job, self-funding, and risks. [00:08:22] Product…
This is a limited feed-provided excerpt, not the full original work.
Apollo layer
What a founder can learn
Founder takeaway
Treat consulting and customization work as a discovery engine for vertical SaaS. Repeated requests from one industry can reveal shared, productizable problems—but commit only after distinguishing scalable needs from one-off client demands.
Why it matters
A focused transition from services to software can turn firsthand domain knowledge into stronger positioning and a more relevant product, while self-funding alongside existing work can reduce early financing risk.