Welcome to the first Pitch the Tide, hosted by Shawn Walchef. This new Friday series puts founders on stage to share their vision and get real-time feedback from a community of operators, leaders, and peers. In our kickoff session, Erin Hooper introduced Franchise Systems Ai, a platform designed to help brands scale smarter by systematizing processes and unlocking data-driven growth.

• AI can unlock smarter franchise growth — by standardizing processes and surfacing data, tools like Franchise Systems AI help brands support franchisees and scale with consistency.
• Pitching is a practice, not just a presentation — founders sharpen their story, positioning, and value by putting ideas into the spotlight and getting direct feedback.
• Community feedback accelerates clarity — real-time insights from peers and operators can reveal blind spots, strengthen messaging, and create actionable next steps.

• Erin Hooper on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/erinhooper1/
• Franchise Systems Ai: https://www.franchisesystems.ai/
• Cali BBQ Media: https://content.calibbq.media/
• Join Our Next Show: https://betheshow.media/rising-tides/
• Shawn Walchef on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shawnpwalchef/

DAVO automates every step of the sales tax process — from collecting to filing to paying. It works seamlessly with your POS, so there’s nothing you need to do. And because DAVO guarantees your taxes will be paid on time and in full, there’s nothing to worry about either.

Digital Hospitality doesn't have to be complicated and our partners at Marqii live that every day. Marqii is designed to create unforgettable customer experiences from first search to latest visit with their one-stop digital operations platform built for hospitality operators.