Most tech founders build products based on research. Alex Mantello builds them from lived experience. With over 10 years in the HoReCa industry — owning and operating 2 cafés, managing restaurants, and running multiple operational businesses — he knows the daily struggles of restaurant owners firsthand.
That hands-on experience is what makes ZED-ZEN different. Every feature in the ZED-ZEN App, every automation in Radio Station, every data point in Meniu Digital exists because Alex encountered the problem himself. No theoretical solutions — only tools forged in the reality of restaurant operations.
But Alex isn't just the business mind — he's the developer too. He designs, codes, and ships every platform personally. This rare combination of deep industry knowledge and technical execution means products move fast, iterate based on real feedback, and never lose sight of what restaurant owners actually need.
From calculating recipe costs by hand in his own cafés to building AI-powered costing tools that do it in seconds. From managing Spotify playlists across locations to creating a centralized radio platform. Every product is a direct evolution of a real problem he solved first manually, then with technology.
Under his leadership, ZED-ZEN has grown to serve 50+ restaurants across Romania, with an 80% client return rate. The company's approach — build from experience, iterate with clients, keep it simple — reflects his philosophy that technology should eliminate friction, not create it.
Alex continues to lead both the business strategy and technical development at ZED-ZEN, ensuring every product remains grounded in the realities of running a restaurant in today's competitive market.