Topi Ventures is a growth strategy firm focused on food, hospitality and technology. We believe the next stage of growth rarely comes from simply doing more of what already worked. It might mean entering a new market, rethinking the customer experience, building an unexpected partnership or creating the capabilities needed to scale. Topi brings together strategy, operating experience and deep industry relationships to spot those opportunities and build the path forward. That same curiosity led to Topi Topics, our live series bringing together leaders across food, technology and culture to exchange ideas, challenge assumptions and explore the forces changing hospitality. It’s another way we stay close to the people, ideas and conversations shaping what comes next.

I’m Joann Jen, Founder and CEO of Topi Ventures, a growth strategy firm focused on hospitality, food and technology. I spent much of my career inside companies at moments of transformation, leading global digital and customer experience at Restaurant Brands International across Burger King, Tim Hortons and Popeyes, and later serving as CMO of inKind. At inKind, I led growth across both sides of the platform as we grew from roughly 500 to more than 1,500 restaurant locations, crossed one million users and delivered triple-digit revenue growth.

I started Topi because I wanted to bring that experience to companies navigating their own next stage of growth. Today, I advise emerging brands and technology companies on where to compete, how to scale and the partnerships and infrastructure needed to get there. I’m especially interested in the people and ideas changing how food reaches us, how hospitality works and what the industry could look like next.

Also, feel free to ask me for restaurant recommendations. I’ve got a few favorites.