In early 2021, we noticed an abusive relationship forming between restaurants and their technology vendors. Payment processing rates were soaring, and online ordering commissions were so high that many restaurants would lose money on every sale. On top of that, the technology itself was failing them. Restaurants invest heavily in creating a beautiful dining room and friendly staff, yet their online experiences were often clunky, confusing, and uninspiring. This didn't just frustrate customers; it created unhappy employees who had to struggle with inefficient systems. It doesn't have to be that way. We founded Blueplate with a clear mission: to build earth’s friendliest restaurant technology company. For us, friendly means fair pricing for everyone. It means creating seamless, confidence-boosting experiences that convert more visitors into loyal customers. It means being friendly and easy to work with. And it means empowering your team with tools that are a joy to use. It’s that simple.
Co-founder & CEO
As Co-founder and CEO, Mason is the visionary shaping the future of Blueplate. He is passionate about product, design, and user experience, and believes that true leadership means staying hands-on. By working directly with customers, Mason guides the company's growth by focusing on solving their most important problems. When he steps away from the office, his love for a great experience continues on the pickleball and tennis courts, through volunteering, and by exploring the local dining scene. He also serves as our primary source of rumors about our CTO, Jesse.
Co-founder & CTO
Jesse thrives on complex problems without obvious solutions. As the architect of Blueplate's complex databases, information architecture, and printing systems, he is driven by the challenge of solving problems for restaurant owners in ways they never thought possible. When he's not designing the future of restaurant tech, he enjoys diving into new hobbies like golf, spending time with his family on the East Coast, and keeping a weekly comedy show tradition with his dad. He is also our reigning champion of making fun of Mason online.
In the 1940s, the blue plate special was all the rave. A solid option meal for a low price. And as much of the country began to move around due to advancements in transportation, pop up diners serving up the blue plate special became a sort of backbone of the classic American diner – get great food at a great cost – no hooks and no gimmicks.
We’re here to democratize tech in the restaurant industry, and be the new back bone which supports and builds people and restaurants up – just like the blue plate special back in the day.
The blue plate to represent us and remind us of the big picture. The bits represent a restaurant having a healthy relationship with technology. The result is a mark that feels very representative of what we do, and incredibly human. The smile at the center is to always remember the human experience is at the center of what we do.