Why Palona Isn’t A Dating App

Hey Reader,

I get a version of the same question a lot:

“You were the CTO at Tinder. Why didn't you just build another dating app?”

This week's post is my honest answer, and why I started Palona instead.

🔔 THIS WEEK AT A GLANCE

Why I left Tinder for restaurants, a Knicks champion bets on salad, and the Fancy Food Show wraps up with a trend name almost too good to be true.

🍽️ THE MAIN COURSE

People assume that after Tinder, building another dating app would have been the obvious move.

I knew the category. I knew the growth mechanics. It would have been the easier path.

But I've never been motivated by repeating what I already know. I'm motivated by learning what I don't.

That's why Palona exists. Restaurants are some of the most operationally demanding businesses on earth. Guests walk in, phones ring, orders change, and there's no pause button to debug any of it.

Most software lives in clean, predictable digital environments. A restaurant is nothing like that, and that's exactly why it interested me.

This week's blog post is more personal than usual. It's about Tinder, why I didn't build another one, and what real-world AI actually means when it moves beyond a screen.

Read the Full Story

💡 TRY THIS TOMORROW

Pick one part of your operation you're still tracking on a clipboard or in your head. That's your next thing to fix.

Reply to this email and tell me what you found. I read every one.

🔥 WHAT’S COOKING (Industry News)

→ Knicks Champion Jalen Brunson Becomes a Just Salad Partner — Just weeks after winning Finals MVP, Brunson is now an equity partner at Just Salad, working directly with the culinary and leadership teams. The best partnerships go deeper than a logo. Nation's Restaurant News

→ The Summer Fancy Food Show Wrapped Today With a Trend Called "SenseMaxxing" — Over 2,500 brands hit the Javits Center this week, and the show's official trend of the year is all about bold, maximalist flavors. If your menu has been playing it safe, take the hint. Specialty Food Association

Want to Learn More?

If you want to talk through what real-world AI could look like in your restaurant, book a call with our team. I'd love to show you what we're building.

Chat With Us

We’re always looking to improve. If you have feedback on this newsletter or a topic you want us to cover, just reply to this email. We read every single one!

Warmly,

Maria Zhang

CEO & Founder, Palona AI

Real World AI

maria@palona.ai