Trace Smith, CEO of Next Glass, shares how an unexpected leap from private equity into the beverage alcohol industry led to building a platform that connects producers, operators, and consumers at scale. From acquiring Untappd to powering menu management for thousands of restaurants, he explains why great products and real customer value drive lasting growth. This episode explores building in a fragmented industry, using data to drive foot traffic, and how technology and AI can enhance hospitality without replacing it.

• Product Quality Drives Everything – Trace Smith believes growth starts with building something that actually works for operators. In hospitality, word travels fast. You can sell a product once, but if it does not save time or drive revenue, customers leave. Untappd for Business scaled because it delivered real value, turning menu management into a tool that increases efficiency and foot traffic.
• Owning the Data Creates Advantage – Next Glass connects producers, operators, and consumers through a shared data ecosystem. By building systems of record and controlling proprietary data, the company creates value that cannot be easily replicated. In a world where many tools sit on top of someone else’s data, ownership becomes a long-term competitive edge.
• Connected Systems Create Better Operations – Untappd for Business is designed to fit into the tools operators already use, not add more complexity. Integrations like Toast allow restaurants to manage menu data once and distribute it everywhere, from in-store displays to consumer discovery platforms. When systems work together, teams move faster, reduce errors, and stay focused on the guest experience.

Episode Links

• Trace Smith LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tracesmith/
• Untappd for Business: https://utfb.untappd.com/
• Next Glass: https://www.nextglass.co/
• Ollie: https://www.nextglass.co/ollie/

Where to find Cali BBQ Media

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Dan Kablaoui of PubKey shares how a neighborhood bar became something much bigger: a gathering place where hospitality, Bitcoin, media, and community intersect. From rebuilding a post-COVID community in New York to launching an ambitious Washington, D.C. venue with a stage, studio, and event space, he explains why physical spaces still matter in a digital world. This episode explores sponsorship-driven growth, content as a business model, and how great hospitality can make complex ideas feel approachable.

• Hospitality Can Be the Gateway to New Ideas – PubKey does not lead with Bitcoin jargon or hard sells. It leads with burgers, beer, and a welcoming neighborhood bar experience. By creating trust first through hospitality, the brand makes complex topics feel approachable and human. Sometimes the best way to introduce something new is through an experience people already understand.
• Restaurants Can Build More Than Food Revenue – PubKey treats its physical space as a business platform, not just a dining room. Events, sponsorships, podcast production, community meetups, and branded activations all create revenue opportunities beyond food and beverage sales. The modern venue can monetize attention, audience, and experiences in ways traditional operators often overlook.
• The Future Belongs to Spaces Built for Content – A great room used to be enough. Now the smartest operators design spaces that can also be filmed, streamed, clipped, and shared. PubKey’s stage, studio, and media setup turn every event into ongoing digital distribution. The venues that win tomorrow will be the ones built for both in-person energy and online reach.

Episode Links

PubKey Online: https://www.pubkey.bar/

PubKey X: https://x.com/pubkey

PubKey YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@PubkeyBar

PubKey Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pubkey.nyc/

PubKey Tik Tok: https://www.tiktok.com/@pubkey.bar

Go to the National Restaurant Show 2026: https://nationalrestaurantshow.com

Use our promo code SHAWN26 for $26 off registration! Disclaimer:

Promotional offer is valid through 5/8/2026. Offer is redeemable through online registration and is only valid for operators. Offer cannot be combined with any other promotion and does not apply to current 2026 Show registrants. Non-exhibiting suppliers are subject to a higher badge rate. #2026RestaurantShow

Where to find Cali BBQ Media

• Visit our Website
• Follow Restaurant Technology Substack
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• Learn About our Media Services

Aaron Hoffman shares how a college side hustle turned into DeliverThat, a national platform helping restaurants take control of delivery and grow catering with confidence. From a viral tweet and bike deliveries on campus to serving major brands through smarter logistics, he explains why restaurants should own the guest relationship. This episode explores first-party delivery, the value of catering, the new Toast integration, and how technology can create simplicity instead of friction.

• Origin Stories Still Matter – Aaron Hoffman did not start with funding, a polished product, or a logistics background. He started with a simple problem, a viral tweet, and the willingness to act fast. From bike deliveries on a college campus to a national platform, the DeliverThat story is a reminder that great businesses often begin by solving one real problem better than anyone else.
• Restaurants Should Own the Relationship – Hoffman believes too many operators gave away delivery in exchange for convenience. When orders flow through third parties, restaurants risk losing margin, customer data, and control of the guest experience. DeliverThat helps brands build a smarter first-party strategy so delivery becomes a growth channel instead of a dependency.
• Connected Tech Wins – Technology works best when it removes friction, not when it adds more complexity. DeliverThat’s new Toast integration gives operators a simpler way to manage delivery inside tools they already use. The strongest restaurant tech stacks are not about having more systems. They are about making the right systems work together.

Episode Links

• Aaron Hoffman LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/aaronhoffman02/
• DeliverThat Online: https://www.ideliverthat.com/
• DeliverThat Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/deliverthatco/
• DeliverThat YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/DeliverThat
• John Zinno LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/john-zinno/

Go to the National Restaurant Show 2026: https://nationalrestaurantshow.com

Use our promo code SHAWN26 for $26 off registration! Disclaimer:

Promotional offer is valid through 5/8/2026. Offer is redeemable through online registration and is only valid for operators. Offer cannot be combined with any other promotion and does not apply to current 2026 Show registrants. Non-exhibiting suppliers are subject to a higher badge rate. #2026RestaurantShow

Where to find Cali BBQ Media

• Visit our Website
• Follow Restaurant Technology Substack
• Follow us on Instagram
• Follow us on LinkedIn
• Learn About our Media Services