Director of Support

Shopify veteran Darrin Henein joins restaurant software startup Owner.com as Chief Design Officer. Online ordering and restaurant marketing system specialist, Owner.com, has appointed Darrin Henein as Chief Design Officer. He was previously at Shopify where he spent almost ten years, most recently serving as Vice President of Design. In a LinkedIn post, he said: "Over the past few months, I took time to pause and reflect - to think deeply about what I wanted from the next chapter of my career. I wasn't in a rush. I had the privilege of connecting with so many brilliant people and teams. But my first conversations with Owner stood out immediately. Their passion for the mission - and the calibre of the team they've built to pursue it - was impossible to ignore." He added: "I spent nearly a decade leading design at Shopify, where we built products that empowered the everyday heroes: entrepreneurs, small business owners, and the people who power our local economies. Finding another company so deeply committed to helping owners thrive in this new era felt like coming home, to continue the work on a mission I care so deeply about." Henein concluded: "My commitment is to build an environment where design and designers can truly thrive: where craft is paramount, and where we leverage our skills to show the world a new future. Where every team member is raising the bar higher and inspiring their peers. Where curiosity drives innovation, where we have fun, and where we push each other to do the best work of our careers - together." The company announced the new valuation in May following a $120 million funding round, and said it would use the cash to create a Shopify for local business owners, beginning with restaurants. We received a record number of entries and many fantastic examples of the continued resilience and dynamism of the retail space during hugely challenging times. Our 2025 hall of fame entrants were revealed during a sold out event which took place at The HAC in Central London on 16th October and consisted of a drinks reception, three course meal, and awards ceremony presided over by award winning comedian, actress and writer Tiff Stevenson. In his welcome speech, Scott Thompson, Founder and Editor, RTIH, said: "This is the awards' fifth year as a physical event. We started off with just 30 people at the South Place Hotel not far from here, then moved to London Bridge Hotel, then The Barbican, and last year RIBA's HQ in the West End." "But I'm conscious of the fact that, to quote the legend that is Taylor Swift, You're only as hot as your last hit, baby. So, this year we've moved to our biggest venue yet, and also pulled in our largest number of entries to date and broken attendance records." He added: "This year's submissions have without doubt been our best yet. To quote one of the judges: The examples of innovative developments across both traditional and digital retail spaces were truly remarkable." Congratulations to our winners, and a big thank you to our sponsors, judging panel, the legend that is Tiff Stevenson, and all those who attended our 2025 gathering.

Adam Guild’s restaurant technology startup Owner.com has secured a new round of funding from prominent investors including Naval Ravikant, Jack Altman, and Jason Lemkin. The investment aims to help the company expand its artificial intelligence capabilities designed specifically for independent restaurant operators. The funding round brings together notable figures from the technology and venture capital sectors to support Owner.com’s mission of providing small restaurants with advanced technological solutions. While the exact amount raised was not disclosed, the backing from high-profile investors signals strong confidence in the company’s direction. Empowering Independent Restaurants Owner.com has positioned itself as a platform that gives independent restaurants access to AI technologies that were previously available only to large chains with substantial technology budgets. The company’s tools help small restaurant owners compete more effectively in an increasingly digital marketplace. The platform offers various AI-powered features that assist restaurant owners with operations, marketing, and customer engagement. These tools are designed to be accessible and practical for small business owners who may lack technical expertise or resources for custom technology solutions. Notable Investor Lineup The investor group represents significant experience in technology startups and scaling businesses: Naval Ravikant – AngelList founder and prominent angel investor known for early […]