18+ years building software at scale in Silicon Valley. Before DirectOrders, Pankaj shipped high-growth products used by millions at enterprise and consumer tech companies.
He started DirectOrders after seeing firsthand how delivery platforms drain restaurant margins with 15-30% commission on every order. The restaurants he grew up around — small, family-run, understaffed — couldn't afford to give away a third of their revenue to a middleman.
DirectOrders is the platform he wished existed: commission-free ordering, AI that actually works (voice phone ordering, smart menu search, marketing automation), and same-day payouts so restaurant owners aren't floating cash for weeks.
Areas of expertise
Articles by Pankaj (49)
Restaurant Failure Rate (2026): Real Data, Real Odds, and How to Win
Apr 14, 2026 · 18 min read
The 4 Types of Foodservice Systems (And Which One Your Restaurant Uses)
Apr 14, 2026 · 12 min read
FIFO vs LIFO for Restaurants: Which Inventory Method to Use (And Why It Matters)
Apr 14, 2026 · 10 min read
Restaurant POS System Cost (2026): $1K-$10K+ Breakdown
Apr 14, 2026 · 14 min read
The 30 30 30 Rule for Restaurants: What It Means and Why It Breaks in 2026
Apr 14, 2026 · 14 min read
All-in-One Restaurant Ordering & Delivery - Fully in Your Control
Apr 8, 2026 · 11 min read
How to Get More Direct Orders and Stop Losing Money to Third-Party Apps
Apr 1, 2026 · 22 min read
Security and Privacy for Your Restaurant Online Ordering System
Mar 18, 2026 · 8 min read
How to Optimize Your Restaurant Delivery Times
Mar 15, 2026 · 8 min read
Restaurant Online Ordering Trends Shaping 2026
Mar 12, 2026 · 10 min read
How to Evaluate Restaurant Online Ordering Platforms (2026 Framework)
Mar 10, 2026 · 15 min read
How to Integrate Your POS with Online Ordering (Without the Headaches)
Mar 8, 2026 · 9 min read
How to Choose the Right Restaurant Loyalty Program
Mar 6, 2026 · 9 min read
AI for Restaurants 2026: A Simple Plan for Direct Orders Without More Stress
Mar 4, 2026 · 9 min read
How to Use Data to Improve Your Restaurant Online Ordering
Mar 4, 2026 · 9 min read