Meet Byte Technology
Byte Technology Founders, Lee and Megan
What is Byte?
Byte Technology allows food companies to sell their products using small unattended stores. Workplaces are the next big retail opportunity for fresh food because it's seen as a wellness benefit for employees, but it also helps small, local food providers to gain new brand exposure and build loyal clientele
Where did the idea for Byte come from?
Lee: Megan and I were running an on-demand meal delivery company called 180Eats. We were competing with well-funded startups like Munchery and Sprig, and recognized early that high customer acquisition and retention costs made the model unprofitable and too challenging. As we were growing 180Eats we developed and patented a vending machine fridge – known in the industry as micro-retail technology. The concept allowed us to sell food without the traditional costs - customer acquisition and retention, building out a store, hiring staff, etc. In 2016 we launched Byte Technology and today, we license our hardware to some of the largest food brands and to hundreds of entrepreneurs. One thing I'm really proud of is many of our customers have even launched their own food business using the Byte platform.
How long did it take to get from idea to deploying your first kiosk?
Megan: At that stage in our lives we moved really quickly. Both of us had left our corporate jobs and with our first baby on the way, we didn't have much of a window. We grew from idea to launching the business in about three months.
What has been the hardest part of starting Byte?
Lee: Leaving the corporate world to walk our own path was a big decision. A quote that really stuck with me during the transition was, "follow your dreams or someone will pay you to follow theirs." Meaning, the security of a paycheck was hard to walk away from, but YOLO. Early on we had a ton of all-nighters (hard) and as a business owner, there are always fires you're fighting (also hard). We've had a few near misses that could have crippled the company... For example, if we didn't pivot 180Eats in time, we'd be out of business. If we didn't raise capital in time, we'd be out of business. etc. etc. etc. All these challenges are what make starting a new business hard.
Tell us what you are doing with local food providers to keep Byte local?
Megan: When we moved to Healdsburg in October '20 we realized that many wineries didn't offer any food. As a fun side hustle I started a company called Sonoma Made. We're deploying Byte fridges in wineries around Sonoma that highlight local Sonoma brands. We reached out to local brands that would sell well in wineries - Costeaux desserts, Spring Hill cheeses, Rustic Bakery crackers, Soul Fixx kombucha, Journeyman meats, etc.
What did you do before Byte?
Lee: Both worked corporate jobs. I was the director of corporate communications for Visa and Megan was the head of sales for an ad technology company.
What do you do to relax?
Megan: We've got three young kids so we don't hear that word often. I love gardening but don’t like digging holes. Lee digs the holes but doesn't like it. Other than that, we spend our weekends exploring Sonoma, playing in the river, and spending time at the pool.
What is your favorite place to eat in Healdsburg?
Megan: Before we moved here, we were hanging out in the square and ate lunch at Bar Bravas a lot. We were really enjoying ourselves and said "we need to move here." So that restaurant has a special place in my heart.
What do you like best about CraftWork?
Lee: It's so convenient, it's got a great vibe and I get so much done here. Taylor is always so helpful and I can really focus on work. During COVID I was working from home but there were so many distractions. It wasn't until I visited Craftwork with a day pass that I realized how distracted I was at home. Home will always have a special place in my heart, but I consider Craftwork the best place for me to actually get work done!