As Stripe continues to expand its ecosystem, Stripe Press emerged as a unique initiative: publishing ideas and stories that inspire entrepreneurs, innovators, and builders around the world. While the creative vision was clear, the business development side required careful planning to ensure new ventures under the Stripe Press umbrella were both strategically sound and financially viable.

That’s where our team came in. We partnered with Stripe Press to provide advisory support across key areas of business development. From building pro forma models that tested the financial sustainability of new concepts, to creating opening budgets that set initiatives on firm footing, we helped translate ambitious ideas into actionable strategies. Beyond numbers, we supported concept development, working collaboratively to shape projects that align with Stripe’s broader mission while standing on their own as innovative ventures.

Through this partnership, Stripe Press gained the clarity and structure needed to pursue new business initiatives with confidence. The result is a stronger foundation for experimentation and growth ensuring that each idea brought to life is not only inspiring, but also positioned for long-term success.

When we first partnered with Mission Sandwich Social, the business faced the familiar challenges of balancing creative culinary ambitions with the financial realities of operating in a competitive market. Despite a strong concept and customer enthusiasm, profitability was inconsistent and operational systems needed refinement.

Our team stepped in to provide hands-on guidance, working closely with ownership to identify areas where efficiencies and discipline could have the greatest impact. We began by refining the menu, ensuring each item contributed meaningfully to both customer satisfaction and margin health. Next, we streamlined ordering and purchasing systems, reducing waste and aligning suppliers with cost-saving goals. Alongside these efforts, we established strict cost-of-goods procedures and operating budgets to bring financial clarity and accountability to daily operations.

The results have been transformative. Mission Sandwich Social has moved from uncertainty to stability, establishing a sustainable operating model that allows them not just to remain open, but to thrive. Today, the team is no longer focused solely on survival; they are looking ahead to new opportunities for growth, supported by the confidence that comes from a disciplined and resilient business foundation.

When Moonrise Bagels entered a period of rapid growth, the team faced the dual challenge of stabilizing operations at their bustling Woodstock location while preparing for the successful launch of a new shop in Poughkeepsie. Balancing the demands of daily operations with the complexities of expansion required a clear strategy, strong systems, and steady leadership.

Great Hands Hospitality partnered with Moonrise Bagels to provide guidance at both the strategic and tactical levels. We developed a critical path for the new opening, oversaw equipment planning, and provided direction on layout and design execution to optimize flow and guest experience. At the same time, we worked closely with the team to strengthen the culture, delivering training and leadership development to ensure the staff was aligned and prepared for growth.

Our support extended beyond operations into the infrastructure of the business. We advised on hiring strategy, HR protocols, insurance coordination, and transport logistics, while also creating training guides and operational manuals to establish scalable systems.

The result was a smooth and successful launch of the Poughkeepsie shop and a stronger foundation for the entire Moonrise Bagels organization. With clear structures and systems in place, the business is now positioned to sustain its growth while maintaining the creative spirit and community focus that define its brand.

Launching a landmark restaurant in the heart of Hartford, atop One State Street, was an ambitious undertaking. The Foundry needed not only a compelling concept and design but also the systems, strategy, and leadership to bring the vision to life and sustain it in a competitive market.

Great Hands Hospitality served as long-term strategic partners throughout this journey, guiding the project over the course of three years from the earliest stages of site research and market analysis through concept development, operator vetting, and design collaboration, all the way to post-opening operations.

Our team’s involvement touched every aspect of the launch. We crafted sample menus and floor plans, led vendor tours, and collaborated on business planning and hiring strategy. We designed and implemented event and reservation systems, overhauled the tech stack, managed OS&E procurement, and provided extensive training to ensure both guest experience and internal operations were seamless. From building critical paths to coordinating marketing initiatives, our hands-on approach ensured that no detail was overlooked.

The result was the successful launch of The Foundry as a standout dining destination one that combines visionary design with operational excellence. Our deep, integrated engagement demonstrates the full breadth of our services across strategy, operations, people, and administration, creating a model for how hospitality ventures can be brought to life with both creativity and precision.

When a historic West Village townhouse was reimagined as a cocktail forward bar and cultural venue, the team behind People’s NYC sought a partner who could bridge creative vision with operational expertise. The challenge was to bring a unique concept to life in one of the most competitive hospitality markets in the world and to do so with both precision and personality.

Great Hands Hospitality was embedded from the project’s inception through launch, serving as both strategic advisor and hands-on operator. We guided concept development and brand identity, coordinated closely with designers, and built the business infrastructure from the ground up including HR, insurance, payroll, and vendor systems. Our team managed the critical path and opening budget, oversaw POS selection and buildout, and developed all service and operational systems required for a seamless guest experience.

On the creative side, we designed a comprehensive beverage program and created detailed SOPs for bar and front-of-house operations, while also sourcing all OS&E. Beyond the core build, we structured private events programming, led opening training and culture-building, and directed opening logistics to ensure that launch day felt both smooth and memorable.

Even after the doors opened, we remained embedded with the People’s NYC team, supporting standards adherence, continuity, and long-term team success. The result is a venue that combines artistry and efficiency, a testament to GHH’s fullservice capabilities, where creative vision, operational rigor, and high-touch execution converge to deliver a best-in-class experience.