Today we’d like to introduce you to Andrew Glantz.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
I grew up in Los Angeles and moved to St. Louis in 2013 to attend Washington University in St. Louis. I originally came here for school, but St. Louis quickly became home and played a huge role in shaping both my personal and professional journey.
While I was a student at WashU, I came up with the idea for GiftAMeal as a way to help restaurants stand out and create a feel good experience for guests.
GiftAMeal makes it easy for anyone to help fight hunger. Diners simply take a photo of their food, drink, or friends at a participating restaurant, and GiftAMeal makes a monetary donation to a local food bank to help provide a meal to a family in need. It is free and fun for guests, while helping restaurants increase customer engagement and build stronger ties with their communities.
What started as an idea in my dorm room has grown to more than 1,200 restaurants across 46 states. Together with our restaurant partners and users, we have helped provide nearly 3 million meals to local food banks nationwide.
In March 2026, GiftAMeal was acquired by Swipe Savvy. I now serve as Vice President of Strategic Partnerships at Swipe Savvy while continuing to lead GiftAMeal’s growth.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Like most entrepreneurial journeys, it was filled with far more challenges than successes, especially in the early years. One of the biggest challenges was convincing restaurants to take a chance on a brand-new company. In the beginning, I was reaching out to restaurant owners one by one, often hearing “no” or receiving no response at all. It took persistence and a lot of iteration to refine the pitch and prove that GiftAMeal could both help communities and drive measurable business results.
Fundraising was another challenge. Building a technology platform and growing a business nationally requires capital, and raising money is never easy, especially as a first-time founder. There were also moments when cash was tight and the future felt uncertain. During the pandemic, for example, many restaurants were struggling just to survive, which created significant pressure on the business.
These challenges were also what made the journey so rewarding. Each obstacle forced me to learn, adapt, and become a better leader. Looking back, the struggles were an essential part of building GiftAMeal into what it is today.
Appreciate you sharing that. What should we know about GiftAMeal?
GiftAMeal helps restaurants turn everyday guest engagement into support for families facing food insecurity.
When guests dine at a participating restaurant, they scan a QR code and take a photo. That action triggers a monetary donation from the restaurant to a local food bank. It is free and fun for guests, easy for restaurant staff, and creates a meaningful connection between the restaurant and its community.
We specialize in helping restaurants use social impact as a practical marketing strategy. Rather than asking businesses to choose between doing good and driving results, we show that they can accomplish both at the same time. Restaurants use GiftAMeal to generate positive guest experiences, encourage repeat visits, increase online reviews, and strengthen their brand reputation.
What sets GiftAMeal apart is the simplicity of the concept and the emotional connection it creates. Guests feel like they are personally making a difference, and they associate that positive feeling with the restaurant that made the donation possible. It is a powerful way for brands to build loyalty while supporting a cause that resonates with nearly everyone.
What I am most proud of is that GiftAMeal has created value for all parties involved. Restaurants gain a highly effective customer engagement tool, food banks receive critical funding, and families in need receive meals. Knowing that a business model we built can simultaneously help restaurants grow and help communities thrive is incredibly rewarding.
Are there any important lessons you’ve learned that you can share with us?
One of the most important lessons I have learned is the value of persistence.
Building a business almost always takes longer and is more difficult than you expect. There were many times when things did not go according to plan, whether that was losing a major prospect, running into cash flow challenges, or facing technical and operational setbacks. In those moments, the key was simply to keep moving forward, learn from what went wrong, and continue improving.
I have also learned that you do not build a successful company alone. Mentors, employees, investors, customers, friends, and family all played an important role in GiftAMeal’s growth. Being willing to ask for help, listen to feedback, and surround yourself with great people is essential.
Finally, I have learned that businesses are most powerful when they create genuine value for everyone involved. GiftAMeal succeeded because it was designed to benefit restaurants, guests, food banks, and families in need at the same time. When you can align incentives and solve a real problem in a way that helps all stakeholders, you create something that is both impactful and sustainable.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.giftameal.com
- Instagram: https://instagram.com/giftameal
- Facebook: https://facebook.com/giftameal
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/giftameal/
- Twitter: https://x.com/giftameal
