Ryan Favro
Curious about automating the drive-thru? Spoiler: we did it. Welcome to Graivy, where we make things faster, smarter, and way more fun.
About Ryan Favro
Co-Founder & CEO – Graivy Inc.
You know how people always talk about "following the beaten path"? Yeah, that’s never really been my style. Instead, I’ve spent my career following the messy, unpaved trails that others tend to avoid—the kind filled with complex problems and hidden potential. I didn’t stumble into tech. I ran headfirst into it, with a love for solving hard problems and an allergy to inefficiency.
From Fintech to Foodtech—A Journey of Surprises
Before Graivy, I was deep in the world of fintech, where the stakes were high and the pace was... well, let’s just say glacial in comparison to the startup world. But it was there that I learned how to blend emerging technologies (like AI, when it started heating up) with good old-fashioned problem-solving. My team and I were building AI-powered solutions and pitching them to banks around the world, and as much as I loved the challenge, something always felt... unfinished.
Fintech is great, but it’s slow. And I don’t do slow.
That’s when I noticed something interesting: foodtech—and specifically, the drive-thru—was ripe for disruption. It was messy, noisy, and unpredictable. You know, my kind of place. So, I jumped ship from fintech and dove headfirst into foodtech.
Why the Drive-Thru?
People might ask: Why the drive-thru? Isn’t it simple? Isn’t it just taking an order? Well, not exactly. The drive-thru is one of the most chaotic, high-pressure environments you can imagine. It’s not just about taking orders—it’s about background noise, accents, impulse customizations, and trying to get it all right before the customer drives off.
Most companies rush into AI thinking they can fix the drive-thru with one-size-fits-all tech. Spoiler alert: it doesn’t work. That’s where others get stuck, and that’s where I get curious. How do you design something that works in chaos? That’s the kind of question that gets me up in the morning.
ServThru: Solving the Hard Problems First
That’s how ServThru was born. While everyone else was trying to build AI that handled the easy stuff, we focused on the hard parts first—like making sure the AI could tell the difference between a customer’s order and their toddler’s tantrum. The goal wasn’t just to automate the drive-thru—it was to make the experience frictionless, faster, and less frustrating for both the customer and the staff.
We’re not just building AI-powered order takers—we’re building the kind of tech that vanishes into the background, making everything feel smooth and seamless. If I’ve done my job right, you won’t even notice it’s there.
My Leadership Style: Rolling Up My Sleeves
I’m not the type who sits on the sidelines. I’m right there, in the thick of it—rolling up my sleeves and tackling problems alongside my team. I believe in leading by doing. We build, we test, we fail, we fix, and we move forward. There’s no room for egos in this kind of work, just a collective drive to get it right. If something’s broken, I’m not just pointing at it—I’m in there figuring out how to fix it with the team.
What Drives Me
At the end of the day, I’m a fixer. I see outdated processes, and I can’t help but wonder: What if this could be better? The drive-thru and kiosk experience hasn’t really changed in decades, and that’s what excites me. I’m not chasing innovation for innovation’s sake—I’m chasing better experiences for real people.
With Graivy, we’re not just automating for the sake of it. We’re here to make the entire Quick Service Restaurant experience smoother, faster, and dare I say, a little more delightful. And we’re just getting started.
Let’s Connect
Whether you’re a potential partner, investor, or just curious about how we’re reimagining the drive-thru experience, let’s chat. You can find me on LinkedIn—I’m always up for a conversation, especially if it involves bold ideas and a good cup of coffee.
