
Episode 1: How Matt Wampler Came to Revolutionize Restaurant Operations with ClearCOGS
From sleeping on aprons in a failing franchise to co-founding a cutting-edge AI company, Matt Wampler's journey exemplifies how the grittiest beginnings can lead to industry-changing innovation. As a self-described "ADD dyslexic kid," Matt transformed a train wreck Jimmy John's location from $400,000 to nearly $1 million in revenue within the first year. After years of intensive restaurant operations and an MBA at Duke, Matt identified the industry's biggest challenge: demand forecasting. In 2022, he co-founded ClearCOGS, an AI platform that helps restaurants predict customer volume, optimize staffing, and reduce waste.