How I Built This with Guy Raz Resy and Eater: Ben Leventhal
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Jan 20, 2025 Ben Leventhal, founder of Blackbird Labs and co-founder of Eater and Resy, dives into his journey from blogging about NYC restaurants to launching impactful ventures. He shares how Eater became a significant voice in dining and the challenges faced while co-founding Resy. Discover how they pivoted their initial model to enhance restaurant profitability through innovative reservation solutions and partnerships, including a notable acquisition by American Express. Leventhal's insights highlight the dynamic relationship between technology and the culinary world.
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Early Career at VH1
- Ben Leventhal's early career involved working on big shows at VH1, like Storytellers and Divas.
- He even briefly served as Madonna's security, escorting her from car to dressing room.
She Loves New York
- During his time at VH1, Ben Leventhal started a restaurant newsletter called "She Loves New York".
- It featured 10-20 restaurants categorized by pop culture themes and gained 10,000 subscribers.
Meeting Lockhart Steele and Launching Eater
- Ben Leventhal met Lockhart Steele, managing editor of Gawker and writer of the blog "Below 14th Street".
- They decided to join forces and launch Eater, a restaurant blog initially hosted as a subdomain of Steele's blog, Curbed.