In a remarkable success story, Chris Comparato, CEO of Toast Inc., has built one of the most influential restaurant tech companies, now valued at over $25 billion. Toast started as a point-of-sale (POS) software firm, but has rapidly evolved into a full-stack technology provider for restaurants, offering everything from payment processing and digital ordering to inventory management and marketing tools. The platform’s popularity surged during the pandemic, as eateries turned to digital tools for survival. With its customer base now spanning thousands of restaurants across the U.S., Toast’s valuation reflects the growing appetite for integrated tech in hospitality. The company’s rapid growth signals how digital transformation is reshaping the food service industry at scale.