Overview
Jeff Fenster is an American entrepreneur and restaurateur who founded Everbowl, a superfood bowl restaurant chain that has scaled to more than 400 franchise locations since 2016.[7] The San Diego-based company operates on Fenster's philosophy of making healthy food accessible and affordable, disrupting traditional restaurant growth models through vertical integration and franchise development.[2]
Before entering the restaurant industry, Fenster built multiple companies in payroll services and digital marketing after beginning his career as a top-performing sales representative at ADP.[4] He has been recognized as a Top 100 Entrepreneur by Empact100 Showcase in 2013 and named to the San Diego Business Journal's Top 40 Executive Under 40 list in 2019.[7]
Fenster's business empire, which he values at more than $100 million, includes Everbowl and WeBuild, a vertically integrated construction company that handles restaurant build-outs.[7] He has appeared on more than 500 podcasts and maintains an active presence as a business advisor and speaker.[7]
Early life and education
Fenster grew up in a middle-class American family with a mother who was a teacher and a father who was a doctor.[7] He graduated from Thomas Jefferson School of Law with a J.D., originally intending to become a sports agent after being inspired by the film Jerry Maguire.[4]
At age 24, Fenster joined ADP as a sales representative and became the company's top performer within six months, earning six figures in his first year.[4] He left ADP over a $17,000 bonus dispute, a decision that forced him to move back in with his parents despite having a fiancée and daughter.[4]
Career
Early Ventures
After leaving ADP, Fenster founded a payroll and HR services company with a former ADP colleague, initially using PayCycle and later Execupay technology.[4] The company developed what Fenster describes as the first single database HR system "from hire to fire."[4]
He also operated a digital marketing agency and worked with Neil Patel in the digital marketing space during this period.[4]
Everbowl (2016–present)
Fenster founded Everbowl in 2016 with the mission of making healthy food affordable and accessible.[1] The superfood bowl restaurant chain allows customers to build their own bowls with acai, pitaya, and other superfoods.[1]
The company has scaled to more than 400 franchise locations through Fenster's business-first approach to restaurant development.[7] Everbowl received private equity investment from Surya Private Equity in 2018.[2]
Fenster's strategy focuses on vertical integration and franchise growth rather than the chef-driven model common in the restaurant industry.[2] He founded WeBuild, a construction company that handles restaurant build-outs, as part of this integrated approach.[7]
Recognition and public engagement
Fenster was named a Top 100 Entrepreneur by Empact100 Showcase in 2013 and recognized as one of the San Diego Business Journal's Top 40 Executive Under 40 in 2019.[7] Thrive Global named him a Top Entrepreneur to Watch in 2020.[7]
He has appeared on more than 500 podcasts and maintains an active speaking schedule as a business advisor.[7] Fenster is a contributor to Entrepreneur Magazine and has written about business strategy and franchise development.[3]
Public statements
I'm on a mission to make healthy food affordable, filling, delicious and accessible to everyone. Eating healthy should be a right not a privilege.
On Everbowl's mission — Jeff Fenster Personal Website, 2023[7]
I wasn't born with a top 1% IQ, and I had no freakish talents either. My family was a regular, middle class American Family, which meant I didn't have the luxury of relying on my parents for money.
On personal background — Jeff Fenster Personal Website, 2023[7]
Personal
References
- Meet Jeff Fenster, CEO of Everbowl — San Diego Magazine, January 2023
- How Everbowl's entrepreneur founder disrupted the restaurant growth model — Nation's Restaurant News, January 2023
- Jeff Fenster — Entrepreneur Magazine, January 2023
- Jeff Fenster: CEO of Everbowl and Author of Relationship Bank Account — The Kara Goldin Show, January 2023
- The restaurant upstart doing so well I had to interview the founder — Mixergy, January 2023
- How the CEO of Everbowl is Radically Growing and Creating an Amazing User Experience — Smart Passive Income, January 2023
- Jeff Fenster's $100MM+ Business Empire Strategies — Jeff Fenster Personal Website, January 2023