David Cleevely didn’t approach hospitality like a chef — he approached it like a systems engineer. After decades building companies at the heart of British technology and science, Cleevely went on to co-own one of the UK’s most iconic Italian restaurants. In this conversation, he explains why running a restaurant isn’t that different from running a technology business — if you understand systems, incentives, and long-term thinking. This isn’t a story about Silicon Valley hype. It’s about infrastructure, patience, culture, and why the boring bits are what actually make businesses work.
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🍝 What a tech pioneer learned by running a restaurant 🧠 Why systems thinking matters more than innovation 🏗️ Building businesses that last — in tech and hospitality 📉 Why most companies obsess over the wrong metrics 🇬🇧 How Britain quietly builds world-class businesses ⏳ The long view: patience, compounding, and endurance Whether you’re building a startup, running a restaurant, or managing a growing team, this is a masterclass in how experienced operators really think. ============================================== ♨️Still bloody HUNGRY? Course ya are. Each week I spend 15 hours writing my newsletter. It’ll take you 5 mins to read. Full of wisdom from the biggest names in food and drink. Subscribe here - https://hungryfeast.beehiiv.com/🍲
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🌟 HUNGRY's Absolutely Bloody Marvelous Sponsors🌟
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✨North Star: (www.northstarbc.co.uk)
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🤝 Let's Connect!
►Let's link-up here (https://www.linkedin.com/in/daniel-pope/)
►Stalk me here (https://www.instagram.com/_hungry.pod/)
