On Wednesday, June 25, 2025, What Now Media Group brought together restaurateurs and industry experts from across the Austin market for a special edition of its “Accelerate” event, hosted at Tómalo Grill, a vibrant Latin-inspired dining destination located at 44 East Avenue, Suite 100, in Downtown Austin.
Tómalo Grill hosted the complimentary event, welcoming over two dozen representatives from restaurants featured on What Now Austin, along with a strong lineup of Preferred Partners from What Now Media Group’s national network. Attendees enjoyed casual networking over drinks and bites before diving into a conversation centered on strategies for growing and thriving in today’s ever-evolving hospitality landscape.
The event was led by Caleb Spivak, founder and CEO of What Now Media Group, and featured a diverse slate of Austin-based restaurateurs and operators. Local restaurant leaders in attendance included Wayne Anderson, owner of Island Ridden Jerk & BBQ Grill, a growing Jamaican fusion concept, and Tony Farmand, owner of Farmand’s Family Kitchen / The Kebab Shop, a seasoned franchisee with deep roots in the Mediterranean fast-casual space.
Also attending were Brittany Jeffery, franchisee of Nothing Bundt Cakes, and Rajeev Dewan, who is bringing Mountain Mike’s to the area after an impressive business pivot from tech retail to food franchising. Shashi Rangaraju, a franchisee of Tapville Social Restaurant, was also present, continuing to expand the pour-your-own taproom concept.
From creative dining spots like Tommy Elivat, general manager of Kyoka Sushi, to dessert-focused entrepreneurs like Priyatham Anisetty of Share Tea, formerly Bubble N Rolls, the event showcased a diverse group of operators actively shaping the local food scene. Other attendees included Manju Babu and Mohammad Dadara of Bagel Bear, a new bagel concept set to open soon in Cedar Park.
Several of What Now Media Group’s Preferred Partners were also on hand to offer support, share tools, and build new relationships with the restaurant operators. These included Ashley Neave of US Foods, a national food supplier offering tailored solutions for growing restaurants, and Nathan Ralls of Heartland, who spoke about streamlining payroll systems to ease back-of-house operations.
Also attending were Ali Slutsky and Alexa Garcia from Resplendent Hospitality, a local PR and marketing agency that helps hospitality brands build awareness and grow customer loyalty. Dan Schrobligen of Our Town America shared how their direct mail solutions connect new movers to local dining spots, while Kash Sarkaria of WinStar Insurance Group discussed risk management packages tailored to the hospitality industry.
The group of over 10 preferred partners represented a broad range of services—from commercial printing with Chris Yanez of AlphaGraphics to operations consulting with Ryan Layne of Royal We Solutions. These partnerships help support restaurant owners from the ground up, whether they’re launching a new location or scaling an existing one.
The restaurant owners and industry-leading experts from What Now Media Group’s network of Preferred Partners shared valuable insights, operational highlights, and expert advice, creating an engaging and informative evening that was both enriching and beneficial for all attendees.
This led Caleb Spivak to delve even deeper into the conversation by discussing critical business points, such as having an exit plan and efficiently managing operations after expanding to multiple locations. After Caleb and the guests shared their tips, knowledge, and concerns, everyone became quickly interested in learning more about their businesses and how they could help one another.
This event provided a valuable platform for restaurant owners and industry partners to collaborate, brainstorm, and establish new connections. It’s clear that the Austin restaurant community is eager to continue innovating and evolving, and What Now Media Group’s Accelerate events provide the perfect space for these conversations to take place.
What Now Media Group shares restaurant opening news in 33 cities across North America, breaking news, and provides timely insight into yet-to-open brick-and-mortar businesses. The platform shares news of thousands of openings across all 33 cities annually.
The industry-leading experts in What Now Media Group’s network of Preferred Partners help new businesses open and existing businesses grow.
Stay tuned for future Accelerate events from What Now Media Group in 2025. For more details, see the Accelerate page here.
Click here for a complete list of our partners. To learn more about becoming a preferred partner, click here.
