Today we’d like to introduce you to Christina Lutfi.
Thanks for sharing your story with us Christina. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
I help run my family business, my mom owns gas stations I have been helping her. For the past five years. Prior to that, I became a medical ultrasound tech, and prior to that I graduated FIDM and worked in fashion for several years. Tech wasn’t my background, A year ago, ( Feb of 2018) I was in my office trying to order lunch. As usual, I was getting frustrated because I couldn’t find the restaurant I wanted, and when I found something the delivery fee was either too expensive on one site, or the delivery time was too long on another. I ran into this problem often, and when you’re hungry it turns to hangry and ordering food is a nightmare.
I told myself why isn’t there one site for all these companies. Like they do for travel i.e Kayak, Expedia. I did a bit of research and realized there isn’t anything. With no tech, app development background I literally googled “Top app developers in Los Angeles” first place I called said it couldn’t be done. Ok I thought to myself I guess that’s it, but wait how can it be done for travel, so I called the next place, they told me to come in and talk. Next thing you know I have a whole dev team and we are building this site from scratch. I didn’t realize how much work it was, but two and a half months later it’s done!
In the meantime I started attending networking events, fake it till you make it, there were so many terms I never heard before but I did not want to seem novice. I would google anything I did not understand. I made great contacts. Someone told me to join an accelerator program, that’s how Air Bnb, Uber, Redditt, etc. started. I applied for one a few people recommended, All I had was a beautiful site an MVP (minimal viable product). I took the chance, next thing you know they want to interview me in person. They loved the concept of the site, as they all order food delivery. I joined the program for six months, I still ran the gas stations, then would head out to Santa Monica for workshops, and mentoring. It was a challenge. Everyone said you must quit your job, but I couldn’t. Its all about balance. Also had a booth at TechDay LA this year! as well as pitched, there.
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Running a couple of businesses, but also having to be on the other side of town for meetings and workshops. Hearing people saying it will fail. Not having the background some people did.
Please tell us about Hungry Butler.
Hungry Butler is an online aggregator. It lets you compare delivery times and fees when you want to order food. It also lets you see the menu price difference, some sites might have the same dish more expensive than it is in the restaurant. We are first to market. What makes me proud is the risk I took to get this done, the site is great, although still working on adding more to it.
Do you look back particularly fondly on any memories from childhood?
Growing up at my grandparent’s house, they taught me to be a good person and gave me great memories, my grandpa and I would walk to a nearby ranch and feed the horses. I also had my best friends living across the street so I would be back and forth having fun.
Contact Info:
- Address: Mailing address – 5250 Lankershim Blvd. North Hollywood, Ca 91601.
- Website: www.hungrybutler.com
- Phone: 8182940469
- Email: [email protected]
- Instagram: hungry_butler
- Twitter: hungry_butler
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