Will Tondo of RestauRent

June 13, 2025 thetechtribune

**An exclusive Tech Tribune Q&A with Will Tondo (co-founder and COO) of RestauRent, which was honored in our:**

Tell us the origin story of RestauRent – what problem were you trying to solve and why?

RestauRent was born from a simple but frustrating realization: there’s no easy way to discover which venues actually host private events. We kept hearing the same question: “Can I book this place for a party?”, and saw firsthand how difficult it was for both venues and customers to connect.

Our founding team has a background spanning product development, hospitality, customer success, and innovation. Post-COVID, we knew there was a real need for people to reconnect and celebrate. At the same time, venues were searching for new revenue streams. RestauRent became our solution – to make event booking seamless and help venues get discovered by the people looking to host events.

What was the biggest hurdle you encountered in your journey?

Focus. In any startup, there are a hundred directions you can run in, and we’ve got a team that thrives on creativity and innovation. But one of our biggest challenges was staying disciplined: making sure we focused on the core mission of connecting venues with event bookers in the simplest, most effective way.

It’s easy to get distracted by shiny features or ideas, but we learned quickly that solving one problem really well (venue discovery and booking) creates the most impact.

What does the future hold for RestauRent?

We’re growing fast. We recently expanded into every major region east of Texas, and our next focus is increasing venue depth and identifying new bookers in each market before scaling nationally.

Even though it’s early summer, we’re already seeing momentum for holiday party planning, and we plan to own that space. We also have some exciting product updates launching soon, tailored to improve the experience for both venues and customers, along with new partnerships that we can’t wait to share.

What are your thoughts on the local tech startup scene in Rhode Island?

The startup scene in Rhode Island is growing, energized, and full of potential. Companies like Emme, Aerogami, Flux Marine, and Feast & Fettle are doing incredible work, and they’re proving that you don’t have to be in New York or San Francisco to build something impactful.

There’s a strong sense of community here. The ecosystem is still maturing, but that hunger to collaborate, support, and scale makes Rhode Island a really exciting place to build. I truly believe this state is poised to defy expectations and become a hub for innovation.

What’s your best advice for aspiring entrepreneurs?

Stay grounded and organized. Create routines that keep you focused and give you structure, even in the chaos. Prioritize what really moves the needle and don’t try to conquer everything at once.

Surround yourself with a strong team, keep growing your network, and never believe you’re too big to learn or take feedback. Most importantly, give back. Every founder benefits from mentors, introductions, and guidance. When you’re in a position to help others, pay it forward.