How a 'Finance Guy' and 'Restaurant Guy' Joined Forces to Invest in Over 55 Companies Branded Hospitality's unique blend of friendship, investment focus and a 'it takes a village' mindset is helping brands grow with purpose.

By Shawn P. Walchef Edited by Jessica Thomas

Key Takeaways

  • Branded Hospitality's success is rooted in a collaborative mindset that values community, partnerships and shared growth.
  • When it comes to investing, its founders believe the biggest predictor of success is the CEO's passion and leadership.
  • The restaurant industry is hitting record sales while closures climb, making for a unique time in the industry.

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They argue like brothers, crack jokes like late-night hosts and happen to run one of the most operator-focused investment platforms in hospitality.

Known as "The Restaurant Guy" and "The Finance Guy," Michael "Schatzy" Schatzberg and Jimmy Frischling, the two founders of Branded Hospitality, are equal parts strategy and schtick.

Think capital meets comedy.

Whether they're riffing on failed restaurant concepts or trading wisecracks about free drinks and investor discounts, their podcast Hospitality Hangout is proof that chemistry and clarity can coexist. But beneath the banter is a real mission: helping restaurant operators succeed with better tech, smarter capital and a stronger network.

Related: How a Jersey Kid Grew His Restaurant Business Into a West Coast Powerhouse

"It takes a village," Frischling says. And he means it. The phrase, which his late mother used in a wedding toast, has become the ethos of Branded Hospitality—a guiding principle behind their investments and relationships alike.

Because if you've ever built anything in this industry, you know one thing: You don't do it alone. That was especially true in 2020, when the pandemic delivered what Frischling calls "a punch in the face."

Like most restaurant operators, their plans went sideways. But instead of freezing up, they hit record. What started as a pandemic-era podcast evolved into a media platform that now supports their investing and B2B growth strategy. The podcast helped them stay visible, build trust and create opportunities for themselves and the companies they support.

Related: Most Creators Are Doing Brand Deals Wrong — And This Sponsorship Expert Has Some Advice for Them

Why they bet on people

When it comes to investing, Schatzberg and Frischling don't hide behind spreadsheets. Their top criterion is the founder.

"Investing at the early stage is betting," Frischling says. "You're betting on the CEO and their team." That mindset led them to invest in companies like Ovation, the guest feedback platform led by Zack Oates. For Branded, the conviction came not just from the product but also from Oates' story, experience and leadership.

It's a pattern they've repeated across their portfolio of 55-plus companies, the majority in B2B SaaS. Their thesis is simple: If a solution truly helps operators and the team behind it lives and breathes the business, it's worth backing.

And again, it all circles back to that village.

Whether it's newsletter subscribers, tech founders, media partners or restaurant operators, Schatzberg and Frischling believe in building with others. Their podcast isn't just content. It's a connection point, a trust-builder and a front door to a much bigger ecosystem that thrives on collaboration.

Because in hospitality, as in life, the strongest brands aren't built in isolation. They're built with people — loud, smart, funny, flawed people who share a vision and aren't afraid to bet on each other.

Just ask the guys wearing all the hats.

Related: This Chef Is Convinced One Cuisine Will Be the Next Big Thing in Fast-Casual Dining: 'I'm Betting My Career'

About Restaurant Influencers

Restaurant Influencers is brought to you by Toast, the powerful restaurant point-of-sale and management system that helps restaurants improve operations, increase sales and create a better guest experience.

Toast — Powering Successful Restaurants. Learn more about Toast.

Shawn P. Walchef

Founder of Cali BBQ Media

“Be the show, not the commercial.”

Cali BBQ Media Founder Shawn Walchef helps brands and leaders leverage the new Business Creator Economy with strategic Smartphone Storytelling and Digital Hospitality.

His Cali BBQ restaurant company has generated more than $35 million since opening in 2008. They operate numerous locations in San Diego and beyond.

Shawn’s weekly video series Restaurant Influencers (published by Entrepreneur Media and produced by Cali BBQ Media) has been seen by over 25 million people.

Want to be an Entrepreneur Leadership Network contributor? Apply now to join.

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