By Leonardo De Aguiar, CEO and Founder of INTUEAT

Culture impacts us all, sometimes in ways we never imagined. Growing up on a cattle farm showed me the importance of hard work. At a young age, my parents integrated the key values that made up our family business. They taught me dedication and hard work and instilled a work ethic that inspired me to devote my life to the food and beverage industry.

I was born and raised in Brazil, which is the fifth-largest country globally, occupying half of the landmass of South America. The country and the people are among the most diverse globally, which is why most populations crave unity and community.

Community has always played a role in my life as well as my family’s. My mother and her side of the family started a small-town restaurant which turned into an international franchise. I saw the ways that food touched people inside and outside the kitchen and how it brought people together. This is where my story starts.

An Intuitive Path

We’re all tired of talking about the pandemic and the “new normal,” but it’s worth mentioning that one of the hardest-hit industries has been those in the food and beverage industry. A booming restaurant relies on people being able to imbibe and consume frequently. But in 2020, social distancing made this nearly impossible.

In the decades before, food delivery was primarily relegated to Chinese food on Christmas and pizza on Fridays. But that changed fast. McKinsey reports that the global food delivery market has nearly tripled since 2017, and in the United States, nearly doubled since COVID-19. I’ve always believed that the food and beverage industry has long been primed for a revolution of sorts, and we all know that innovation is the child of necessity.

So, what did we need? Two things: a way to provide chefs and restaurant workers with the opportunity to sharpen their skills and share their craft with diners and a method for diners to experience restaurant-level dining in their homes. This is where the INTUEAT vision was born.

Starting From Scratch

I pursued a career in the food and beverage industry by studying at Johnson & Wales, and during my time there, I met some of the most passionate, talented people I’ve ever known. And after tasting their creations, I would be hard-pressed to decide who would cook my proverbial last meal. But yet, before, during, and after the pandemic, I saw many struggling to find a way to turn their passion into a paycheck.

Many of us don’t have the luxury of covering the high overhead costs of starting a business—especially in the restaurant world that includes a kitchen, high-quality ingredients and tools, space for diners, and someone to figure out the rest of the logistics that lead to success. Denver is full of talented chefs that just need a way to bring their dishes to the public.

I first recognized the need for in-home dining when trying to plan an intimate proposal dinner for my then-girlfriend, now wife, in my apartment. At first, I started a small, on-demand catering company called Chef Connect, but after receiving a few specialty requests for in-home dinner parties, I saw a way to showcase and support the talented chefs in my network. From local families to professional athletes, the need continues to grow.

The connection that an online platform can bring to diners and chefs is the missing piece. To truly support and amplify chefs to help them develop their own businesses and concepts, the platform needed to provide not only connection but physical space. The INTUEAT Kitchen allows the chefs to use their creativity through curated food-centered events through pop-up experiences that bring the Denver community together.

A New Dinner Table

The dinner table has brought people together for centuries. The concept is not new, but the way we’re setting the table is changing with our evolving needs. We are celebrating these fantastic and unique chefs who make up our industry. We hope INTUEAT provides an environment with a powerful foundation built on inspiration, collaboration, and community. Bringing comradery back to the kitchen starts by supporting chefs, ensuring enough room for everyone to succeed, and highlighting their talent.

While my Brazilian culture inspires every step I make in the business world, the inspiration I experience around the table through the people, conversations, and within the carefully crafted dishes is what will make the food and beverage industry continue to thrive no matter what comes next.

About Leonardo De Aguiar

Leonardo De Aguiar is a young, innovative Entrepreneur and Business Owner. He grew up with a family that is deeply rooted in business. They instilled the values of hard work, dedication and the desire to contribute to society positively. Leonardo is currently operating as the Founder & CEO of INTUEAT INCORPORATED. He has spent the last three years building a Food & Beverage brand in Denver, Colorado, and is looking to expand in additional markets in the near future. INTUEAT is an innovative digital marketplace connecting high-end private chefs and hospitality professionals to diners who want fine dining on-demand. The platform also offers local foodies a pop-up brick-and-mortar event space where they can experience delicious cuisines from the chefs of INTUEAT at the INTUEAT Kitchen. Leonardo leads a small team of highly skilled and talented individuals who are assisting him in the expansion of INTUEAT to the national stage, as well as successfully closing funding rounds to ensure the viability of the company. Leonardo was Brazilian-born and now resides in Denver.