Alex Mantello is a Romanian entrepreneur, self-taught software developer, and the founder and CEO of ZED-ZEN (legally FORTITUDO VINCIT SRL), a technology company specializing in AI-powered digital solutions for the HoReCa (Hotel, Restaurant, Café) industry. Based in Bucharest, Romania, Alex has built a career spanning over a decade at the intersection of hospitality, events, and technology.
Born and raised in Romania, Alex Mantello began his entrepreneurial journey in Mureș county, in the heart of Transylvania — a region known for its vibrant culture and growing business community. His first ventures were in the events and entertainment industry, where he founded and directed four unique event and entertainment brands. Under his leadership, these brands executed over 150 events across seven Romanian cities, establishing him as a recognized figure in the country's events scene.
Alex's event management career demonstrated his ability to operate at scale. He managed teams of up to 80 individuals for both commercial and non-profit events, overseeing everything from creative direction and marketing to logistics, vendor management, and on-site operations. His events ranged from music and entertainment to community-focused initiatives, including coordinating environmental cleanup campaigns that showcased his commitment to social impact beyond business.
The transition to HoReCa came naturally through his direct involvement in the food and beverage industry. Alex owned and operated two cafés, where he handled every aspect of the business firsthand: human resources, inventory management, supplier negotiations, daily operations, and customer experience. This hands-on experience with the real challenges of running food businesses would later become the foundation for every product ZED-ZEN builds.
During his years managing cafés and restaurants, Alex identified a critical gap in the market: restaurant owners were drowning in data from multiple delivery platforms (Bolt Food, Glovo, Wolt), struggling to manage online reviews, calculating food costs manually on spreadsheets, and lacking tools designed specifically for their industry. Generic enterprise software was too complex and expensive, while manual processes were eating into already thin margins.
This realization drove Alex to teach himself software development. As a self-taught developer, he learned full-stack web development, database design, API integration, and AI implementation — motivated not by an interest in technology for its own sake, but by a desire to solve real problems he experienced daily as a restaurant operator. His GitHub profile (github.com/Jamaalx) reflects this practical approach to development.
In founding ZED-ZEN through FORTITUDO VINCIT SRL (a Latin name meaning 'Strength Wins'), Alex combined his decade of HoReCa operational experience with his technical skills to create an ecosystem of products that address the specific pain points of restaurant owners. He personally designs, develops, and ships every ZED-ZEN platform — a rare combination of CEO and technical founder that ensures products stay grounded in real industry needs.
ZED-ZEN's product portfolio under Alex's leadership includes: ZED-ZEN App, an all-in-one business intelligence platform with delivery analytics across Bolt, Glovo, and Wolt, AI-powered review management, and recipe costing; Radio Station, a centralized music management system with AI-generated advertising spots for restaurant chains; Meniu Digital, smart QR/NFC digital menus with real-time analytics; AI Photo Studio for professional AI-generated food photography; Pulse, an NFC-based Google review collection system; Custom WebApps with Glovo On Demand integration; HR Tool for restaurant workforce management; and HoReCa consulting services.
Under Alex Mantello's leadership, ZED-ZEN has grown to serve over 50 restaurants across Romania, maintaining an 80% client return rate — a testament to the practical value of solutions built by someone who has lived the problems they solve. The company's client portfolio includes notable Romanian HoReCa brands such as Ciorbe si Placinte, Grataru Meserias, Bacania La Stan, Terasa Florilor, Galaxy Waterpark, CoHotels, and others.
Alex is also an active voice in Romania's HoReCa community. He hosts and speaks at industry events, including delivery marketing workshops in partnership with platforms like Glovo, where he shares practical insights on restaurant technology adoption, delivery optimization, and digital transformation strategies for the hospitality sector.
His business philosophy is straightforward: technology should eliminate friction, not create it. Every ZED-ZEN product reflects this — built from personal experience, iterated with real client feedback, and designed to be simple enough that any restaurant owner can use it without technical training. Alex Mantello represents a new generation of Romanian entrepreneurs who combine deep domain expertise with technical execution to build solutions that serve their communities.
Alex Mantello can be reached through ZED-ZEN's website at zed-zen.com, via email at [email protected], or through his professional LinkedIn profile. ZED-ZEN is headquartered in Bucharest, Romania, and serves HoReCa businesses nationwide.