In the demanding restaurant industry, where every minute counts, managing operations can quickly become a time-consuming task. That’s where GastronomIA comes in—a young Neuchâtel-based startup founded by Julien l’Eplattenier and Kim Chiquet. Their multifunctional app is designed to help restaurant owners optimize their time and reduce food waste, while digitizing the many often tedious administrative tasks.
We had the opportunity to speak with the co-founders to better understand their background, their vision, and the future of GastronomIA.
A Meeting of Two Complementary Areas of Expertise
Julien l’Eplattenier comes from the world of fine dining, with experience in event catering and food service. As for Kim Chiquet, he is a seasoned entrepreneur with more than 12 years of experience in information technology. Together, they created GastronomIA,an app designed to transform restaurant management by streamlining day-to-day processes.
“Our app helps restaurant owners save time by digitizing everything that’s currently done on paper: orders, receipts, recipes, employee records, and so on,” explains Kim.
A solution designed for professionals
GastronomIA isn’t just another management app. It was designed specifically for restaurant professionals. “There’s nothing quite as comprehensive on the market today,” says Julien. The app brings together all essential tasks on a single platform, accessible on a phone or computer.
“We enable chefs to manage their administrative tasks from anywhere—whether they’re on the bus or between shifts,” adds Kim.
The app also offers tools for creating visuals, optimizing recipes, planning menus, and managing communication with customers on social media.
Challenges in Implementation
The idea for GastronomIA came about after years of observing the challenges faced by restaurant owners. However, setting up such a platform was not without its obstacles.
“Convincing people of the value of such an app in such a traditional industry wasn’t easy,” Julien says.
The duo also had to find skilled developers capable of meeting the project’s specific requirements. “We were fortunate to work with a team of young developers, one of whom was very familiar with the restaurant industry, which made the development process much easier,” Kim recalls.
Why Neuchâtel?
The decision to establish GastronomIA in Neuchâtel came about naturally, mainly thanks to the strong networks the co-founders had there, particularly in the gastronomy sector. Julien and Kim were also able to count on the support of GastroNeuchâtel, a key local partner, as well as guidance from the Department of Economic Affairs.
“Neuchâtel has provided us with a network and support that we wouldn’t have found anywhere else,” Kim points out.
Julien adds, “For a startup, networking is essential, and Neuchâtel is a place where that network can really make a difference.”
An Ambitious Vision for the Future
In five years, GastronomIA plans to expand beyond Switzerland. “After consolidating our presence in French-speaking Switzerland, we aim to expand into Germany and Italy, with the goal of becoming a major European player in digital restaurant management,” says Kim. The app is already multilingual and ready to conquer the international market.
A Crucial Collaboration
The co-founders are unanimous: their collaboration with the Neuchâtel Economic Development Office was crucial. “We weren’t initially aware of all the assistance available, but thanks to our network, we were able to take advantage of this support, which really accelerated the development of our project,” says Julien.
Neuchâtel as a hub for FoodTech?
According to Kim, Neuchâtel has a lot to offer entrepreneurs, but there is still work to be done in terms of communicating about available support and opportunities for tech startups.
“Neuchâtel could become a hub for FoodTech and thus attract more investment and talent,” he suggests. The idea would be to boost the canton’s international visibility by capitalizing on innovative sectors such as digital gastronomy.