Today we’d like to introduce you to Mo Sloan.
Hi Mo, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
My name is Mohammed “Mo” Sloan, Founder and CEO of EZ-Chow. I have spent my entire professional career as a Software Engineer and Architect working for enterprise organizations in banking/finance (Republic Bank), airline/logistics (UPS Airlines), restaurant and hospitality (Papa John’s Corporate), and pharmacy (Humana Pharmacy). In 2015, I noticed that online ordering capabilities for restaurants were still limited to the larger organizations within the restaurant space. I contacted a local pizzeria (Boombozz) and asked if they had considered offering online ordering. Boombozz leadership (Tony Palombino, a local restaurateur) did indeed want online ordering, but they needed online (web/mobile) orders to be integrated to their existing POS (point-of-sale). I knew exactly why integration was an operational necessity due to my experience with PJI (where I worked on the redesigned POS, Online Ordering, Back Office, and other software development areas). I began to develop a platform for Boombozz for online ordering integrated with the POS. In October 2015, we launched EZ-Chow with the launch of Joella’s Hot Chicken (another restaurant concept owned, operated and started by Tony Palombino). EZ-Chow took customers’ orders and placed them directly into the restaurant’s existing POS. We began to acquire additional customers (merchants). We now work with Logan’s Roadhouse in the Carolinas and UCP (Ultimate California Pizza), as well.
I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey has been a fairly smooth road?
Launching a startup has definitely been challenging. You have your “normal” startup challenges such as acquiring customers, developing the platform, etc., things associated with “Bootstrapping” a startup. However, we were fortunate (or unfortunate, depending upon how you look at it) to close our first round in 2020 on March 16th, which happens to coincide with the first day of “Shelter At Home” orders across the country. We were at ground zero for COVID19 and the impact on the restaurant and hospitality industry (restaurants closing their doors for dine in/sit in/eat aka on-premise ordering.
Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
EZ- Chow is a B2B2C Omni-Channel Digital Ordering Platform for restaurants and hospitality organizations. Started by former Papa John’s Corporate IT and Operational Leaders, our goal is to provide a merchant and operator-centric digital ordering (web/mobile, self-ordering via kiosk, or tableside ordering and payment via devices or QR codes) platform which allows single unit or multi-unit operators to provide a custom digital ordering experience for their respective brand which focuses on increasing revenue, increasing profitability via ordering efficiency (POS integration and minimal operation disruptions), and end-user/guest/patron satisfaction via friendly, well-established UIs (User Interfaces). Built for operators, by operators.
Do you have any advice for those looking to network or find a mentor?
Creating relationships – mentoring and networking, I imagine, is similar to major college sports recruiting. The similarity is that it takes time to develop a relationship. Also, another piece of advice I would provide is this “Ask for money, get advice – Ask for Advice, get money.”
Pricing:
- $0 upfront, $299 per month per device for our kiosk ordering
- $299 a month for online ordering (includes POS Integration, depending upon existing POS) – no transaction fees or commission
Contact Info:
- Website: https://ez-chow.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ez_chow
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ez.chow.pos.integrated.online.ordering
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/ez_chow
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCGLNwMbXxGWKtTsdpnQ-JNg
