The restaurant business has always been tough. But today, it’s getting harder in ways few people expected. Managing orders across five different delivery apps while trying to run a functioning kitchen is driving owners and managers to the brink. Thibault Le Conte, founder and CEO of OrderOut, saw the chaos firsthand. After more than a decade in computer science and building companies like Raden and Mobee, he turned his attention to a growing problem: restaurant operations were broken.
Building Solutions That Eliminate Real Pain Points
When people think of restaurant tech, they often imagine flashy apps or futuristic payment systems. Le Conte discovered that the real problems were behind the scenes. Restaurants were overwhelmed by fragmented workflows, trying to manage multiple delivery platforms alongside their existing point-of-sale systems. “It was chaotic, inefficient, and error-prone,” he says. “We designed a platform that integrates all of these services into one seamless dashboard.”
What made OrderOut different was its approach. Le Conte didn’t assume he knew what restaurants needed—he and his team spent months inside kitchens, shadowing staff and asking questions. “Talk to your customers early and often,” he says. “We worked side by side with restaurant owners and managers to make sure every feature solved a real problem.” Too many tech companies skip that step, then wonder why their tools never catch on.
Move Fast, But With Purpose
Everyone loves to talk about speed in startups, but Le Conte believes in focused urgency. OrderOut went from concept to functioning product in a matter of months. The reason? A commitment to building quickly, but not blindly. “Speed doesn’t mean cutting corners,” he says. “It means focusing on the features that deliver the most value.” That meant starting with the major delivery players. “We didn’t try to support every platform out there right away,” he explains. “We prioritized integrations with UberEats and DoorDash because solving that problem could immediately save restaurants hours every week.” Smart teams don’t try to do everything at once. They focus on what matters, test it in the real world, and keep refining.
Build a Team That Shares the Mission
For all the talk about technology, Le Conte credits OrderOut’s success to its people. Building the right team, he says, was more important than any single line of code. “Technology alone doesn’t create change. People do,” he explains. He looked for candidates who understood the tech, but also cared deeply about restaurant challenges. His hiring strategy focused less on résumés and more on mindset. “I hire for commitment and alignment with our mission,” he says. “Then I empower the team to take ownership.” A team that actually cares about fixing the problem will always build better solutions than a team just looking to complete another software sprint.
Solving the Right Problems, the Right Way
Changing how restaurants operate is not just about building smarter software. It’s about solving real challenges, moving with intention, and creating a team that believes in the mission. “Leading an early-stage company in this space means staying grounded in what restaurant owners actually need,” Le Conte says. “It’s about thinking strategically, building with purpose, and inspiring people to go bigger.” The restaurant industry continues to evolve, often in unpredictable ways. But one thing is clear: the businesses that survive will be the ones that simplify operations without sacrificing customer experience. That is a hard problem to solve—but it is exactly what keeps Le Conte and his team moving forward.
Connect with Thibault Le Conte on LinkedIn to explore how tech can bring clarity to operational chaos.
