#235 Feeding the Future: Raju Malhotra's Insight into FoodTech

Ever wonder how technology is transforming the food and restaurant industry? Tune in to our enlightening conversation with Raju Malhotra, Chief Product and Technology Officer at PAR, who takes us through his fascinating tech journey, from Microsoft and Salesforce to smaller startups. Raju shares his experiences, insights, and the obstacles he faced during this transition. Be prepared to get a glimpse into the intricacies of explaining the value proposition in a smaller organization and the subsequent challenges it brings. Together, we traverse the latest trends in food tech, exploring the undeniable roles of automation, robotics, and AI. Raju shows how these technologies are revolutionizing the future of restaurants, highlighting the importance of zero-party data, and the power of AI in customizing offers for guests. We also delve into the distinctive roles of product managers and engineers in the tech industry, shedding light on their significant contribution to the tech landscape. Raju’s expertise doesn’t stop there. He takes us deeper into the tech world, emphasizing on the importance of open APIs and the risks of developing on top of other platforms. His experiences of creating platforms that attract and retain large brands are particularly noteworthy. If you have an entrepreneurial spirit, Raju's lessons on team chemistry, product market fit, and constant iteration are invaluable for anyone looking to start a tech company. So, sit back, relax, and let us take you on a fascinating journey of technology in the restaurant industry. More About Raju: Raju Malhotra is Chief Product & Technology Officer at PAR Technology (NYSE:PAR). He joined PAR via the acquisition of Punchh, an omni channel loyalty and engagement startup based in San Mateo, CA. Prior to his current role, he was Senior Vice President and General Manager for Marketing Cloud at Salesforce and Chief Product & Technology Officer at Khoros. He joined Khoros from Conversant, later acquired by Publicis Groupe, where he led the development of an industry-leading personalization platform for digital marketers. Before that, he worked at Microsoft as part of Consumer and Enterprise businesses including Visual Studio .NET, Microsoft’s marquee product for software developers and now a centerpiece of its cloud strategy. Raju has an undergraduate degree in Computer Engineering from National Institute of Technology, Kurukshetra (India) and an MBA from the Wharton School of Business at the University of Pennsylvania https://www.linkedin.com/in/rajumalhotra https://www.par.com