The WookAI Story
WookAI was born from founders Dave DeSantis and Chris Ure’s shared frustration with restaurant supply chain imbalances. Dave, a restaurateur with 16 establishments, experienced firsthand the difficulties of negotiating with large suppliers. He envisioned a software platform to empower buyers, and Chris, a serial investor, partnered with him to create WookAI, leveling the playing field for restaurants. (More on Dave and Chris on LinkedIn.)
Leadership Team
David DeSantis
David DeSantis, an EMBA from Kennesaw State University, is a seasoned restaurant industry leader with more than 27 years of experience, having founded six successful brands and owned 17 restaurants. His career began at a young age in the foodservice industry and evolved from managing pizza restaurants to building multiple restaurant concepts. Drawing on his extensive operational experience, David founded WookAI, an innovative supplier relationship management platform designed to help restaurants streamline supplier communication, inventory control, pricing automation, rebates, contract management, and supply chain auditing. His mission is to empower restaurant operators with greater efficiency, transparency, and profitability through technology-driven solutions.
Chris Ure
Chief Financial Officer & Co-Founder
Chris brings over 30 years of experience in investment banking, entrepreneurship, and business leadership. He began his career at [EY], specializing in mergers and acquisitions, leveraged finance, restructuring, and bankruptcy advisory services. Over the past two decades, he has also been involved in numerous ventures across retail, apparel, and manufacturing industries.
Chris has held significant public service and governance roles, including serving for nearly eight years as a commissioner of North Broward Hospital District, where he helped reduce public tax support by nearly $100 million. He continues to serve on boards and investment committees overseeing billions of dollars in assets. A recognized industry contributor, Chris has been featured in The Wall Street Journal and appeared on the Today show. He holds a BSBA in Finance with honors and a minor in Accounting from University of Florida.
Johnny Grubb
With 25 years of restaurant experience and 15 years in management, I’ve built my career leading operations across a wide range of concepts, from casual dining to fine dining. My background has given me a deep understanding of what drives restaurant success: strong leadership, operational discipline, guest experience, and the ability to protect profit without compromising quality.
I recently transitioned into a leadership role at WookAI, helping restaurants maximize profitability through smarter ordering and inventory control. This move brings together two things I know well: the realities of restaurant operations and the opportunity to use better systems and technology to improve decision-making. I’m passionate about helping operators gain visibility, create consistency, and scale more effectively in an increasingly competitive industry.
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